US Defense Secretary Pete Hegset, at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, said Washington is prepared to resume military action against Iran if an agreement is not reached. He emphasized that the US has "sufficient stockpiles of weapons" and is "fully capable" of continuing the war, and that the defense-industrial base is being strengthened to increase ammunition production. Hegset noted that President Donald Trump is "patient" and seeks a "big deal" that guarantees Iran will not obtain nuclear weapons, and that "the American president will not sign any deal if it is not in the interests of our country."
Tehran responded through an advisor to the Supreme Leader, Mohsen Rezaei, who accused Trump of "betraying diplomacy for the third time" because of the continued naval blockade and excessive demands in negotiations. Iranian sailors reported that ships attempted to cross the blockade line after the announcement of a relaxation, but met American warnings, up to threats to open fire. Meanwhile, the security forces stated that 20 vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz within 24 hours in coordination with Iranian military forces, and the British trade mission assessed the level of maritime threat in the strait as "critical" because of the blockade.
President Trump announced on his Truth Social platform the lifting of the naval blockade and demanded that the Strait of Hormuz be opened immediately without passage fees. He also called on Iran to remove all naval mines, noting that US minesweepers have already neutralized several of them. Trump added that Iran must agree "never to have nuclear weapons or a bomb," and that the US will carry out nuclear inspections in coordination with Tehran and the IAEA, stressing that "no money will be transferred to Iran until further notice." These statements came amid ongoing maritime tensions and shipping concerns.
A two-hour meeting of the White House operational staff was held to discuss options regarding Iran, but no final decision was made. Officials confirmed that "President Trump will not enter into any agreement with Tehran if it is not beneficial to America and does not conform to his red lines." According to the New York Times and other sources, the administration is close to a deal, but issues such as frozen Iranian assets remain a key obstacle. It is also reported that Washington has received verbal assurances from Iran regarding nuclear materials, and a possible agreement could include a ceasefire in Lebanon.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry said it wants to verify the "authenticity of the lifting of the naval blockade" — whether this is a real step or merely media statements. The ministry emphasized that Tehran is currently focused on "ending the war," not on discussing details of the nuclear program. The foreign ministry also noted that Iran's actions are in line with its "national interests," that management of the Strait of Hormuz in the future will be joint with Oman, and that hostile vessels will not be allowed to pass, whereas commercial ones will only be allowed "in coordination with our forces." The ministry called the American blockade illegal from the outset and a violation of the ceasefire regime, and its lifting — a cessation of unlawful actions.
The war, started by the US and Israel on February 28, has led to the deaths of thousands of people, mainly in Iran and Lebanon, and has caused a global economic crisis due to rising energy prices as a result of the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Diplomatic and military maneuvers continue, but many unresolved issues remain: maritime jurisdiction, frozen assets, and guarantees that Iran will not have nuclear weapons. The situation is still defined by the balance between US military pressure, Tehran’s statements, and the international community’s concern for the safety of shipping and energy supplies.
News Commentary
- Who is Mohsen Rezaei and what role does he play in Iran’s political system? — Mohsen Rezaei is a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) from 1981 to 1997, now a politician and member of the Expediency Discernment Council — an advisory body to the Supreme Leader that resolves disputes between parliament and the Guardian Council. He has run for president three times but did not win. His role is to embody the conservative wing and the IRGC’s interests within the political establishment.
- Why is the Strait of Hormuz considered one of the most strategically important sea routes in the world, and how has Iran historically used control over it as a pressure tool? — About 20% of the world’s seaborne oil (roughly 17 million barrels per day) passes through the Strait of Hormuz, making it the planet’s "oil throat." Iran has historically used the threat of blocking the strait as leverage in conflicts: for example, during the Iran-Iraq war (1980s) and in response to US sanctions (2018–2019). This forces world powers to seek a balance to avoid disruption of energy supplies.
- What are the "frozen Iranian assets" mentioned in the article, and why are they a key obstacle in negotiations with the US? — These are billions of dollars of Iranian funds frozen abroad as a result of US sanctions (for example, about $6 billion in South Korea). For Iran, their unfreezing is a condition for any dialogue because it directly affects the economy and access to international trade. For the US, they are leverage and a means of control over Iran’s nuclear program, so the assets have become a stumbling block in negotiations (for example, partial unfreezing was discussed in 2022–2023 in exchange for concessions).
Full version: واشنطن تهدد بضربات جديدة وإيران تتهم ترمب بخيانة الدبلوماسية