US President Donald Trump renewed his assertion yesterday that the ceasefire with Iran has ended, while indicating that negotiations with Tehran are continuing — a signal that military strikes against Iran will persist in response to any Iranian violation of international maritime safety.
Washington accused Tehran yesterday of violating the terms of the memorandum of understanding, during a UN Security Council session on the situation in Iran.
US Ambassador to the Council Tammy Bruce said Washington would hold Tehran accountable for any targeting of freedom of navigation in the strait, adding that Tehran continues to fall short of its obligations and duties toward the International Atomic Energy Agency, and stressing the necessity of full compliance.
This comes as controversy intensifies over the interpretation of Article 5 of the memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran, which obliges the latter to make the necessary arrangements to resume shipping traffic, ensure safe passage for vessels, and remove military obstacles — without granting it control over the strait. The article has become a point of contention and a landmine threatening to collapse the memorandum, as the Trump administration holds that it allows maritime navigation to return to its previous state, while Tehran claims it grants Iran a pivotal role in managing the vital waterway.
The Council of the International Maritime Organization strongly condemned yesterday the Iranian regime's establishment of an entity claiming control over shipping traffic through the strait, and called for non-recognition of any Iranian measures aimed at "preventing, disrupting, or impeding international navigation and the right of transit passage, or interfering with it in any other manner."
Meanwhile, the Axios website reported that "Qatar, Pakistan, and other regional mediators are working to ease tensions between Washington and Tehran and revive negotiations on a nuclear agreement."
It noted that the mediators believe the recent Iranian attacks in the Strait of Hormuz were "orchestrated by elements within the Iranian regime who oppose the memorandum of understanding and are seeking to undermine it."
Axios added that diplomatic efforts are currently focused on first reaching a de-escalation agreement before setting a date for a new round of negotiations between the technical teams.