US Demands Iran Publicly Halt Attacks on Shipping in Strait of Hormuz Amid Diplomatic Talks

The United States has presented a series of demands to Iran during recent negotiations, including a public commitment to cease attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and assurances that shipping lanes will remain open and free of obstruction. Senior American officials told reporters overnight between Friday and Saturday that talks with Tehran have been constructive but emphasized that "we will either reach an agreement or not."

US officials revealed that Iran attributed recent attacks on ships in the Strait to a "rogue element acting independently" within its system, aiming to sabotage the understanding between the parties. Iranian representatives reportedly admitted the attacks were a mistake, saying, "they messed up." The US hopes Iran will publicly acknowledge this failure and commit to stopping attacks on vessels. Officials noted an ongoing power struggle within Iran between hardliners and pragmatists.

The US maintains military options to ensure Iranian nuclear sites remain inaccessible, with the nuclear program remaining a central condition for any future agreement. Officials stressed that if Iran refuses to stop firing on ships, nuclear negotiations will not proceed. "If they never honor the easiest part of the commitment, which is not to shoot at ships, then we will never enter nuclear talks," one official said.

The recent escalation began on the night between Monday and Tuesday when Iran attacked three vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. In response, President Donald Trump ordered strikes on Iranian targets and declared the ceasefire over from his perspective. At the NATO summit in Turkey, Trump called Iran "a cancer" and criticized the country harshly. Despite agreeing to continue talks, Trump stated on his social media platform that the ceasefire had ended.

Iranian official Mohammad Marandi denied Trump's claim that Iran sought to continue talks, labeling it "fake news." Behind the scenes, diplomatic efforts continue to reduce tensions after Iran launched ballistic missiles and drones toward Gulf countries and Jordan. A US source told CNN that America deliberately paused attacks to avoid escalation and allow diplomacy to proceed, while maintaining a "target list" as leverage. Although preparations for new strikes exist, Washington has chosen to prioritize diplomacy for now.