United States President Donald Trump has stated that no talks with Iran are currently taking place or planned, further deepening tensions between the two countries.
In a new post on Truth Social, Trump said that there are "no talks or discussions" with the Islamic Republic of Iran and that the US naval blockade of Iran "remains in full force."
In the same statement, the US president claimed that the Strait of Hormuz is open and operating normally, while adding that all underwater mines have been removed or detonated.
Trump's statement comes shortly after he published a map of the Strait of Hormuz with the inscription "New US Territory", causing strong reactions from Tehran.
On the other hand, Iran has a completely opposite stance. The speaker of the Iranian parliament and the country's chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, declared that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States fulfills the terms of the interim agreement reached in June.
According to Ghalibaf, Tehran demands the lifting of the US blockade of Iranian ports, the lifting of sanctions on oil exports, the release of frozen Iranian assets abroad, and a halt to threats and military operations against Iran.
The understanding between Washington and Tehran was reached on June 17, but negotiations quickly fell into a stalemate due to disagreements over the control and status of the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump declared on July 7 that the agreement was "done," while a few days later the Iranian Foreign Ministry announced that the memorandum had been suspended.
Under the interim agreement, both sides pledged to negotiate a final agreement that would also include issues related to Iran's nuclear program. The negotiations were set for a maximum period of 60 days, with the possibility of extension if both sides agreed.
Recent statements from Washington and Tehran indicate that the clash over the Strait of Hormuz remains one of the main flashpoints of the crisis, while any escalation could have significant consequences for security and international energy transport.
