Tehran, Iran. Iran’s top negotiator said talks with the United States had made progress but that gaps remained over nuclear issues and the Strait of Hormuz, as President Donald Trump cited “very good conversations” with Tehran while warning against “blackmail” over the key shipping channel.
Negotiations described as advancing but unresolved
Neither side offered specifics on Saturday about the state of negotiations, days before a fragile ceasefire in the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran is set to expire.
“We have had progress but there is still a big distance between us,” Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, told state media, referring to talks last weekend. He said there were issues on which Iran insisted and others that were U.S. “red lines,” adding that the disputes “could be just one or two.”
Trump said the United States was having “very good conversations” but provided no details.
Conflict and regional spillover
The war, now in its eighth week, has killed thousands, spread to Israeli attacks in Lebanon and sent oil prices surging because of the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which before the war carried one-fifth of the world’s oil shipments.
An Israeli soldier was killed in combat in southern Lebanon and nine were wounded, including one seriously injured, the Israeli military said early on Sunday.
Strait of Hormuz closure and ceasefire disputes
Tehran reversed course on Saturday to reassert control over the strait, again closing the energy choke point and adding fresh uncertainty to the war, which the United States and Israel launched on February 28.
Iran said it was responding to a continued U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, calling it a violation of the ceasefire. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said Iran’s navy was ready to inflict “new bitter defeats” on its enemies.
Trump called Iran’s move “blackmail” while praising the talks.
On Friday, Iran had announced the temporary reopening of the Strait of Hormuz following a separate U.S.-brokered 10-day ceasefire agreement on Thursday between Israel and Lebanon.
Ceasefire deadline and renewed threats
Trump defended the U.S. blockade and threatened “to start dropping bombs again” unless the countries reached a long-term deal before the ceasefire expires on Wednesday.
What do you think is most likely to determine whether the ceasefire is extended beyond Wednesday?