CNN reported Sunday, citing multiple sources familiar with the mediation, that the two sides have not held a second face-to-face meeting in Pakistan, but quiet talks have continued. The discussions are focused on a phased approach. In an initial stage, key items include returning to prewar conditions and reopening the Strait of Hormuz without restrictions or transit fees. Iran’s nuclear program would be taken up in later stages, the report said.
Uncertainty over the outlook remains. The Wall Street Journal reported that President Donald Trump and his national security team are skeptical of an Iranian proposal that would reopen the strait while putting nuclear talks on hold.
Trump views the nuclear issue as a central condition of any agreement. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told a briefing that “the president’s red line on Iran is very clear,” and said Trump would state his position soon.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in an interview with Fox News, said that if Iran’s idea of “opening the strait” means “yes, it’s open, but you have to consult Iran and get our permission, and if not we’ll attack you, and pay a toll,” then “that’s not opening the strait.” He said the Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway and stressed the United States cannot accept Iran normalizing a system in which it decides who can use it and how much they must pay.
Rubio also said Iran is trying to threaten the world with nuclear weapons, adding that it wants to hold the world hostage to get what it wants, as it does now with oil. “That is unacceptable,” he said.
With no visible breakthrough, Washington is increasing pressure. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that doing business with sanctioned Iranian airlines carries the risk of U.S. sanctions. He urged governments to take steps to ensure their companies do not provide services to those airlines “in any form,” including supplying jet fuel, catering, paying landing fees or providing maintenance. Bessent said the Treasury Department will maintain “maximum pressure” on Iran and will act against third parties that help or carry out Iran-related transactions.
Pressure through a maritime blockade is also continuing. U.S. Central Command said the United States has diverted 37 vessels to other routes since the blockade began. Analysts said Iran’s crude storage capacity has fallen to an estimated 12 to 22 days. Commodities analytics firm Kpler forecast Iran could make additional output cuts of up to 1.5 million barrels a day by mid-May.
Debate inside Iran over whether to negotiate is also continuing. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Russia’s Vesti broadcaster that Iran is “clearly fighting the world’s greatest power,” and said the other side has “clearly achieved no goals.” “That is why he is calling for negotiations, and we are now reviewing that option,” Araghchi said.
Iranian officials have also moved to counter doubts about the negotiating team. State-run IRNA reported that 261 of the Majlis’ 290 lawmakers adopted a statement backing the negotiating team. The statement appeared to respond to Western media analyses suggesting the team had lost decision-making authority under pressure from hard-line military forces.
The lawmakers said that as the war enters a new phase, the enemy is trying to stir conflict between authorities and the public across the battlefield, the streets and diplomacy. They said parliament, as the people’s representative, trusts and fully supports the negotiating team, especially Majlis Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, describing him as the head of the team who has stepped into a new arena of battle against the enemy.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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