Iran suspends US talks, threatens to close Strait of Hormuz

For weeks, President Donald Trump has signaled that a peace deal with Iran was within reach. That prospect dimmed on Monday after Iranian negotiators halted all exchange of messages with Washington through mediators, blaming Israeli attacks on Lebanon. Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi had previously stated that the ceasefire was binding across all fronts. "...violation on one front is a violation of the ceasefire on all fronts. The US and Israel are responsible for the consequences of any violation," Araghchi continued.

Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, cited the naval blockade and the escalation of war crimes in Lebanon as clear evidence of U.S. noncompliance with the ceasefire, on X. Tehran and its allies in the Axis of Resistance are considering a complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz and ​activating other fronts, including the Bab El Mandeb Strait, as a punitive measure against Israel and its supporters, Tasnim reported. No official announcement has been made yet.

The idea behind opening a new front in the conflict at the Bab El-Mandeb Strait off the coast of Yemen is to target a key chokepoint and narrow passageway that controls sea traffic towards the Suez Canal, Reuters explained. Trump told NBC News' Garrett Haake that he is unaware of Iran suspending talks, but noted it is "okay" if true. "I think we've been talking too much, if you want to know the truth. I think going silent would be very good, and that could be for a long time," he was quoted as saying.

Trump ruled out the possibility of restarting the bombing campaign against Iran, insisting instead that the American military will keep the blockade in place. "I think I can wait as long as they want. They're losing a fortune..." he said. The President then announced that he had spoken to Israel and Hezbollah and brokered a truce in a Truth Social post. He also said that the talks with Iran were unfolding at a rapid pace.

The suspension comes at a time when a broader regional ceasefire is already fragile, raising the risk of the three-month-old conflict escalating further. Moreover, the Strait of Hormuz is among the world's most critical oil highways, with roughly 20 per cent of global petroleum supplies passing through it daily; any closure would send energy prices soaring further and multiply the inflationary impact on people worldwide.

The timing of Iran's exit from the talks is particularly noteworthy. U.S. Central Command announced on Monday that it had conducted "self-defense strikes" against Iranian radar and drone sites over the weekend, a move triggered by Tehran shooting down an American drone in international waters. Iran quickly retaliated by firing two ballistic missiles at American soldiers stationed in Kuwait; however, both missiles were successfully intercepted, and no casualties were reported.

It remains unclear if this specific military flare-up prompted Iran's withdrawal; it is by no means an isolated incident. In fact, this marks yet another clash between the two sides since a ceasefire was established in April. Meanwhile, Trump urged his critics to sit back and relax despite the spike in tensions, claiming their public "chirping" was only making it harder for him to negotiate a deal with Tehran. In a recent post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, "Talks are continuing, at a rapid pace, with the Islamic Republic of Iran." President Trump also informed that he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hezbollah, claiming that "Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack Israel."