Iran says no talks if Trump threatens war, as ship hit in Hormuz

Iran has indicated that it will not engage in further peace talks with the United States if President Donald Trump continues his threats to resume military action. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that negotiations on a final deal would not commence if these threats persist, referencing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that paused hostilities. His comments came as a tanker was struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, causing a fire, and millions of Iranians participated in funeral processions for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, vowing vengeance.

President Trump had recently reiterated his threats, stating that the US would 'finish the job' if a deal was not made, and warned of the ability to disrupt Iran's energy supply. The incident in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy shipping route, served as a reminder of the unresolved security issues in the region. The tanker, identified as a Qatari LNG carrier, sustained damage to its engine room, though the crew was reported safe. News reports also suggested Iran may have fired on two ships. Neither Washington nor Tehran directly commented on the incident.

The ongoing mourning for Ayatollah Khamenei, who was killed along with family members in an attack at the start of the war, has been marked by large public gatherings and chants calling for vengeance against Trump. Iran's leadership has used these events to project national unity. The war, which began four months prior with stated US and Israeli aims to halt Iran's nuclear and missile programs and its regional threats, has been paused under an interim peace deal. However, indirect talks in Qatar concluded without significant progress towards a lasting agreement.