U.S. urges Iran to publicly commit to ending Strait of Hormuz attacks
U.S. officials said they are pressing Tehran for a public pledge to stop attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz as negotiations continue, while Iranian officials claim the ceasefire has been honored.
U.S. officials said they are seeking a public statement from Iran that its forces will cease attacks on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping lane that has seen intermittent closures since the conflict began in February. The demand, made by senior U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, is intended to support ongoing diplomatic talks and ensure the safety of commercial traffic.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Muscat, Oman, on Saturday to discuss arrangements for safe passage of vessels. In a post on the social media platform X, Araghchi asserted that Iran has upheld its side of the ceasefire, contrasting the U.S. position with what he described as violations by the U.S. Treasury Secretary.
"Iran has so far kept its word, unlike the so-called U.S. Treasury Secretary who is violating Para 9 of the MoU," Araghchi wrote.
The United States has indicated that without such a pledge, the negotiations are unlikely to produce a favorable outcome for Iran. One official was quoted as saying the statement must acknowledge that all channels of the strait are open and that ships will no longer be targeted.
"What we're demanding is that the Iranians issue a public statement that acknowledges all channels of the Strait of Hormuz are open and they're not shooting at ships anymore. They're either going to give us that statement or we're not having a good outcome for them," the official said.
The request comes amid heightened rhetoric from President Donald Trump, who posted on his Truth Social platform that 1,000 missiles are ready to strike Iran and warned of a potential large-scale military response if he were targeted.
"1000 Missiles are Locked and Loaded and aimed at the Islamic Republic of Iran, with thousands of more to immediately follow," Trump wrote.
The U.S. and Iran have exchanged accusations of ceasefire violations, and the situation remains volatile as both sides navigate diplomatic and military pressures.