US President Donald Trump, after completing his visit to Beijing, said that Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed on the need to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. In an interview with Fox News broadcast directly from Air Force One, Trump promised that the Strait of Hormuz “will remain open,” and called “world stability” his personal mission. He warned that Tehran would not be able to use the strait as a weapon against Washington, and said he was prepared to accept an oil price of up to $200 if it would stop Iran from building a bomb that, in his words, “they would certainly use against us.”
Trump also asserted without evidence that “military operations against Iran are largely completed” and that 85% of the Islamic Republic’s missile production has been destroyed. He boasted that he had “completely routed the Iranian armed forces,” adding that he does not ask favors from anyone, including China, because “favors have to be repaid.” These remarks came amid uncertainty: it remains unclear whether Washington will return to direct military confrontation or continue on a course of negotiations and pressure.
From the Iranian side, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that Tehran had received “messages from the Americans expressing readiness to continue dialogue and engagement,” despite Trump’s earlier refusal to accept Iran’s response to his proposal. Araghchi explained that reports of a US rejection or of Iran’s reply referred to earlier days when Trump said on social media that the Iranian response was unacceptable, but that the Americans later resumed contacts. The head of Iranian diplomacy also expressed openness to any role by China in a possible settlement, but acknowledged that the process mediated by Pakistan “is very complicated, mainly because of American behavior and the lack of trust.”
Pakistan has been trying for several weeks to act as a mediator between Washington and Tehran: last month Islamabad hosted a round of talks between Iranian and US delegations, which did not yield a final agreement. Meanwhile, the ceasefire established on April 8 remains fragile on the ground. Mediation faces obstacles related to mutual distrust and rejection of certain proposals, which hampers a political settlement despite the exchange of messages. In this situation, the roles of regional and international players — such as China and Pakistan — are considered key to possible progress toward broader agreements.
Israel, according to the newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, is in tense anticipation: the military is on heightened alert in case clashes resume. Journalists do not rule out that the US might carry out limited, rapid strikes on specific Iranian targets to force Tehran to show flexibility in negotiations. This reflects fears of sudden military escalation and adds uncertainty as to whether Washington will continue the diplomatic path or return to a coercive scenario to compel Iranian concessions.
Meanwhile in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state television reported that the naval forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps allowed the passage of a greater number of vessels in accordance with “legal protocols” developed by Tehran. According to Iranian media, coordination with IRGC forces now makes it possible to let more ships pass, and this allegedly indicates that more countries are accepting the new rules. Recall that the strait remains a key point of tension: Tehran insists on control over shipping even in a post-conflict period, while Washington and other states demand guarantees of free passage amid the American blockade of Iranian ports since April 13.
Comments on the news
- Why is the Strait of Hormuz so important to the global economy and why does Iran use it as leverage? - The Strait of Hormuz is a key maritime corridor through which about 20% of the world’s oil passes. Any blockade of the strait leads to a sharp spike in energy prices. Iran uses this strategic asset as leverage to influence international talks on its nuclear program or sanctions, threatening to close the route to tankers of opposing countries.
- Who is Abbas Araghchi and what role does he play in Iranian diplomacy? - Abbas Araghchi is the Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran 🇮🇷, a key negotiator on the nuclear deal (JCPOA). He represents the moderate wing of Iranian diplomacy, often acting as an intermediary between conservative circles and the international community. His role is to balance Western demands and Tehran’s “red lines.”
- What is the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and why does it control naval forces in the Strait of Hormuz? - The IRGC (Sepah) is an elite military-political formation separate from Iran’s regular army. It reports directly to the Supreme Leader and controls key defense and economic sectors. The IRGC naval forces (as opposed to the regular navy) are responsible for protecting the Strait of Hormuz, as this area is considered a “sovereign line of defense” for the regime. Control over the strait gives the IRGC both strategic power and easy access to smuggling routes.
Full version: ترمب يجدد تعهده بمنع نووي إيران وطهران تتلقى رسائل لمواصلة التفاوض