On the 46th day of the conflict between Iran, the United States, and Israel, there was little progress in peace negotiations, and the focus remained on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
This Tuesday (the 14th) is officially the second day of the American blockade. The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that no vessel managed to cross the strait during this period.
However, data from a monitoring platform indicate that at least nine commercial vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz, including ships under U.S. sanctions for ties to Iran.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Iran anticipated the American offensive and built a substantial reserve of oil outside the Persian Gulf. That means, according to the publication, that the country could withstand the Hormuz blockade for weeks or even months.
Nevertheless, Tehran is weighing a short-term pause in shipments through the strait to avoid testing the U.S. naval blockade and jeopardizing a new round of peace negotiations, according to Bloomberg.
New Round
Pakistan proposed to host a new round of negotiations between the United States and Iran in Islamabad in the coming days, before the end of the two-week ceasefire.
In an interview with the New York Post, the U.S. president, Donald Trump, indicated that the new round of talks could take place within two days. Meanwhile, the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, said that the resumption of negotiations is “highly likely.” “The indication we have is that it is highly likely that these negotiations will be resumed,” he told reporters, also advocating the continuation of the cease-fire.
Talks between Israel and Lebanon
On the other front of the war, representatives from Israel and Lebanon met in Washington. The two sides reported positive discussions, but a peace plan remains uncertain.
The President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, expressed hope for a deal in a statement and said that peace will not return to the south of the country while Israel occupies the territory.
Earlier, before the talks in the U.S. began, foreign ministers from 17 countries urged the parties to “take advantage of the opportunity.” “Direct negotiations could pave the way for lasting security for Lebanon and Israel, as well as for the entire region,” said the joint statement.
