Iran has announced that it continues to maintain control over the Strait of Hormuz and has reiterated that it never requested peace talks with the United States, following President Donald Trump’s decision to halt a two-week bombing campaign against the country.
The announcement was made by Tehran on Monday, after the United States halted a series of airstrikes that had continued for 13 consecutive days. In response to the campaign, Iran had launched retaliatory strikes against U.S. military bases.
Iran said it would also suspend its attacks as long as the United States refrains from launching further strikes against Iranian targets.
According to U.S. military officials, they had informed President Donald Trump that the air campaign had reached the point of diminishing returns, with few additional military objectives left to achieve. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine was also reportedly concerned that stocks of missiles and air defense munitions were being depleted.
Despite the cessation of hostilities, there are indications that the conflict may not yet be over, raising concerns that fighting could resume if tensions escalate again.
Iran has dismissed reports that it requested renewed talks with the United States.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Tehran had never sought to resume peace negotiations with Washington.
“Reports claiming that Iran requested talks with the United States are fabricated. That is not in our nature,” Baghaei said.
However, Iran acknowledged that messages continue to be exchanged with the United States through intermediary countries, adding that it has not abandoned diplomatic channels.
Tehran also reiterated that it maintains authority over the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian state media reported that six vessels were redirected after allegedly violating regulations by attempting to transit the strategic waterway without authorization from Tehran.
According to Iranian authorities, only shipping routes designated by the government are authorized for use in the Strait of Hormuz, while routes not approved by Tehran are considered unauthorized. Iran also said it intends to establish a system to monitor maritime traffic through the strait.
The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, is one of the world’s most strategically important maritime passages, serving as a major route for oil exports from Gulf countries to international markets.
In June, the United States and Iran reached a broad understanding to hold negotiations before the end of August, with the aim of addressing several outstanding issues, including Iran’s nuclear program. However, the two sides remain divided over the interpretation of agreements concerning the Strait of Hormuz. The United States maintains that the arrangements should guarantee the unhindered passage of commercial vessels, while Iran argues that they grant Tehran the authority to regulate and monitor maritime traffic through the strategic waterway.
