Talks between the United States and Iran appear to have entered their final phase, with the aim of resolving remaining disputes and reaching a comprehensive agreement, while military tensions in the region have been simmering for three months and have had significant economic consequences worldwide.
In this context, US President Donald Trump unexpectedly announced the temporary suspension of Operation Freedom, which is related to ensuring the safe passage of ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The decision comes at a time when diplomatic consultations, public and private, are taking place without obstacles and on the eve of the mid-term elections in the US. In a statement on social networks, Trump emphasized that the decision was made “based on the requests of Pakistan and other countries, the military success against Iran and the progress towards a final agreement”, explaining that it is a temporary pause to test the possibility of finalizing the agreement.
However, the naval blockade of Iran remains in place, maintaining pressure on Tehran. This move is seen as a signal of goodwill from Washington, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is in China for diplomatic meetings with his counterpart Wang Yi. Diplomatic developments have increased optimism for an imminent solution, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also declared that military operations against Iran have ended and the focus has shifted to “Project Freedom”. Behind the scenes, diplomatic contacts have also expanded with other international actors. Rubio has also held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, while Russia has confirmed an exchange of views on current developments.
Meanwhile, the crisis has had a strong impact on global markets. The rise in oil prices has led to a decline in demand and consequences for the prices of basic products and transportation, increasing social discontent. Trump himself described this as a “small price to pay” to prevent Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. On the other hand, Iranian state media have interpreted the suspension of the operation as a US withdrawal and a failure to achieve its objectives, emphasizing that the decision came after strong pressure from Iran. A new element in this crisis is the new mechanism established by Tehran for the passage of ships in the Strait of Hormuz, which provides for special transit authorizations. This move is seen as an attempt to increase control and economic benefits from one of the most important sea routes in the world. All these developments strengthen expectations that an agreement between the US and Iran may be very close, while the international community remains awaiting the next steps.
