Talks between the United States and Iran have stalled over the Strait of Hormuz. However, US President Donald Trump claims his country has “complete control” of the waterway and is once again insisting that the United States is in the stronger position.
Trump told reporters in Washington on Wednesday that shipping through the strait is “not going to be perfect,” but he said a “lot of oil” has been brought out. He added that he is not in a hurry to resume negotiations.
Trump said, “Maybe at some point, but right now I think the situation is so good.”
The Iranian side has stepped up its criticism. Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf visited Iraq on Wednesday and spoke at the site of deadly US airstrikes in 2020. The attacks killed prominent Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.
Ghalibaf said: “Here in this place, I say to these two dear martyrs, Abu Mahdi and dear Qassem: Know that we and all those who believe in your cause in Iran and Iraq will not sit idly by until your ideals are achieved.”
The UK’s Financial Times newspaper reports that Iran may expand its retaliation beyond the Middle East. It cites Iranian officials as saying that, if Trump escalates attacks, they could hit military facilities in Europe. Potential targets include an air base in Bulgaria and a British air base in Cyprus. The paper also said they are considering attacks on undersea “fiber-optic cables” in the Strait of Hormuz.