The Trump administration has given Iran until Saturday to publicly confirm that the Strait of Hormuz remains open and pledge to halt attacks on commercial vessels. The deadline comes after the U.S. accused Tehran of violating a three-week-old memorandum of understanding by repeatedly firing on ships, prompting President Donald Trump to declare the ceasefire "over," according to Axios.
U.S. officials argue that Iran's failure to honor a straightforward commitment on the strait raises serious doubts about its ability to implement a far more complex nuclear agreement. One official warned of harsh consequences if Iran refuses, saying, "If it is not their position [tomorrow], it is not gonna be a great day for them."
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is set to meet with his Omani counterpart Badr al-Busaidi on Saturday, as officials try to revive the faltering ceasefire, Iran's official news agency IRNA reported. The U.S. has already launched two rounds of strikes on Iran in retaliation for the Hormuz attacks.
Officials say talks toward a broader nuclear deal have made progress over three weeks of negotiations, but the Hormuz crisis has raised serious questions about whether Iran will stay committed to any final agreement. On Thursday, a U.S. official said that despite traded strikes, the U.S. will engage in "technical talks" with Iran and remains committed to resolving the conflict.
The talks come as Israel has reportedly shared new intelligence with U.S. officials suggesting that Iran may be pursuing a renewed assassination plot targeting President Trump.
