Key facts
- Iran's joint military command warned vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz must adhere to approved routes or face a 'forceful response.'
- US and Iranian diplomats concluded indirect talks in Doha, Qatar, with mediators reporting cautious progress.
- An agreement was reached to establish a communications channel for reporting alleged memorandum violations.
- Discussions included frozen Iranian assets, with an agreement to purchase needed goods.
- The next round of talks is scheduled to take place after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's funeral.
- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres discussed regional developments.
Iran's joint military command issued a warning on Thursday, stating that vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz must adhere to approved routes or face a 'forceful response.' This escalation in tensions over the critical waterway occurred as U.S. and Iranian diplomats concluded indirect talks in Doha, Qatar, with mediators reporting cautious progress.
The statement from the Khatam al-Anbiya military command followed a U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announcement about regional leaders underscoring their commitment to the 'free flow of commerce through the Strait of Hormuz,' a phrase that appeared to provoke Iran.
Iran and the U.S. had previously agreed to a 60-day ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz as part of a memorandum of understanding brokered by Qatar and Pakistan. However, disputes over vessel route control and passage fees remain.
Mediators Qatar and Pakistan confirmed that separate meetings with U.S. and Iranian negotiators in Doha had yielded positive progress. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, stated that an agreement was reached to establish a communications channel to report alleged violations of the memorandum. Discussions also covered frozen Iranian assets, with an agreement to purchase needed goods for Iran.
Both sides agreed to continue talks following the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in February. The next round of negotiations is expected to be scheduled as soon as possible after the funeral processions.
Pakistan's foreign minister held a phone call with his Saudi Arabian counterpart to discuss the ongoing mediation efforts in Qatar between Iran and the US. The leaders expressed satisfaction with the positive progress made during the negotiation and hoped that the discussions would continue in the near future.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres held a phone call on Thursday amid ongoing US-Iran negotiations in Qatar. The officials discussed the latest regional developments, the Strait of Hormuz, and the agreement to end the “military aggression” of the US and Israel, according to Iran’s ministry.