Iran has indicated it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz in return for a temporary ceasefire, according to a senior Iranian official. This statement follows a deadline set by Donald Trump for the country to open the crucial waterway. Trump had warned of severe consequences if the deadline was not met, including threats to target Iran’s power plants.
In response to a new proposal from Pakistani mediators, Iran is considering a two-part plan to pause hostilities. The first phase involves a ceasefire lasting over a month to halt ongoing missile and drone attacks, with the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The subsequent phase, known as the “Islamabad Accords,” would focus on negotiating sanction reliefs and nuclear agreements within 15-20 days.
Despite these developments, Tehran remains skeptical of Washington’s readiness for a permanent ceasefire and is unwilling to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for a temporary cessation of hostilities. Esmaeil Baghaei, a spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry, emphasized that negotiations should not be influenced by ultimatums and threats of war crimes. He affirmed Iran’s commitment to defending its positions confidently and stated that Iran’s response would be communicated in due course.
Originally, Trump had set a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by a certain date, but he later extended the deadline to allow for further negotiations.
