U.S. officials on Friday issued a stark warning to Iran, demanding a public declaration that the Strait of Hormuz remains open and an end to attacks on commercial shipping, or face unspecified consequences. The demand comes as the two nations stand on the brink of renewed conflict.
U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed frustration, stating that Iran was not upholding its commitments under a memorandum of understanding signed in June. Recent attacks on Qatari and Saudi commercial tankers were cited as evidence of Iran's non-compliance.
"What we're demanding is that the Iranians issue a public statement that acknowledges all channels of the Strait of Hormuz are open and they're not shooting at ships anymore," one official stated. "They're either going to give us that statement, or we're not going to have a good outcome."
If the attacks persist, the official added, "then we're going to hit them back."
These warnings follow President Trump's declaration that a recent ceasefire was over, after Tehran reportedly requested a continuation of peace talks that had broken down. The U.S. has responded by deploying an armada, including two aircraft carriers, toward Iran's coast as a show of force to ensure the strait's safety.
Iranian officials are scheduled to meet in Oman on Saturday to explore restarting negotiations, with safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz for commercial ships reportedly topping the agenda. U.S. officials indicated that failure to secure Iran's cooperation could lead to significant repercussions.
Another U.S. official stated that President Trump is running out of patience and that while he is allowing space for diplomatic efforts, there is limited time. "But not a lot of space and not a lot of time."
Under the terms of the interim agreement reached in mid-June, negotiators have until mid-August to finalize details, particularly concerning the strait and Iran's nuclear program. However, U.S. officials expressed pessimism about reaching a final deal and confirmed that contingency plans are being prepared.
The U.S. has linked Iran's ability to ensure safe passage for ships to its trustworthiness on nuclear issues. "An official said if Iran would stop firing on ships 'that will give us some confidence they could actually honor a nuclear deal. If they never are able to honor the easiest part of the commitment, which is not shooting at ships, then of course we're never getting into the nuclear negotiation.'"
Tensions between Washington and Tehran have escalated recently. Reports emerged of threats against President Trump during funeral ceremonies for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The President, who reportedly altered travel plans due to security concerns, stated he has prepared for such eventualities.
"I've been on their list for a long time. That's what we're dealing with," Trump said. "The only thing is, I've left instructions — if anything happens, to just literally bomb them at levels that they've never seen before."
The June agreement included the cessation of a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports in exchange for Iran ensuring safe passage for commercial vessels. Tehran's subsequent actions, however, have raised concerns and ire within the U.S. administration.
"We're definitely in a wait-and-see moment," a U.S. official commented. "I think the next couple days will be interesting. We either make a deal or we don't, and we'll see how it all plays out."