US President Donald Trump said yesterday no talks were taking place with Iran and none were scheduled, and he insisted that the Strait of Hormuz was open, contradicting an earlier Iranian assertion that the critical waterway remained shut to shipping.
A temporary ceasefire agreement expired on Monday and a senior Iranian official told Reuters that his country was moving to a “fully offensive” military posture due to the diplomatic stalemate, though there were no reports of fresh strikes by either side yesterday.
“The Naval Blockade remains in full force and effect. The Hormuz Strait is open and operating. All water mines have been removed or detonated,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social yesterday.
On Monday, Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and special envoy, had sounded an optimistic note, saying talks with Iran were still under way and were “probably more robust” than they had ever been.
Despite Trump’s typically ebullient remarks about the situation in the Gulf, preliminary shipping data yesterday showed ship crossings via the Strait of Hormuz were still in single digits on Monday.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said it received a report yesterday that a vessel was struck by an unknown projectile while transiting outbound in the Strait of Hormuz, causing engine room damage and a crew casualty.
The remaining crew were being assisted by the Omani Coast Guard, according to the report.
Top Iranian negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said in comments published by state media that the strait would remain shut until the US met the conditions of an interim deal signed with Iran in June.
Iran remains open to dialogue with the US but does not confuse negotiations with surrender, Mohammad Mokhber, an adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, said yesterday, according to the semi-official Fars news agency.
A memorandum of understanding signed on June 17 had set a 60-day time frame for a broader deal on Iran’s nuclear programme and US sanctions.
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