Washington:
The United States and Iran are exploring a potential deal that could involve a ceasefire in exchange for Tehran reopening the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by Axios citing three US officials. The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow shipping corridor between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman that handles roughly 20% of the world’s oil and LNG supplies.
The officials said it remains unclear whether the discussions were held directly or through intermediaries, and cautioned that there is no certainty a deal will be reached. However, they indicated that US President Donald Trump has been actively discussing the possibility with officials inside and outside the administration.
The report also noted that Trump spoke about a potential ceasefire with Mohammed bin Salman during a phone call on Wednesday.
US conditions for ceasefire
In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed that Iran’s president wants a ceasefire and said that it would only happen when the Strait of Hormuz is “open, free, clear”. “We will consider when the Hormuz Strait is open, free, and clear. Until then, we are blasting Iran into oblivion or, as they say, back to the Stone Ages!!!”, Trump wrote.
However, a spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry labelled the claim “false and baseless”.
Trump had on Tuesday said he could walk away from the war in two to three weeks once he felt confident Iran would not be able to build a nuclear weapon, even if Tehran does not agree to a ceasefire.
Meanwhile, China and Pakistan had presented a proposal that included a ceasefire and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Vance speaks for ceasefire with intermediaries
Vice President JD Vance has also been in touch with mediators regarding a possible ceasefire as recently as Tuesday, according to a source familiar with the matter. The source said Vance conveyed a message to Iran through intermediaries that the United States is open to a ceasefire if its key conditions are met, including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
At the same time, Vance reiterated warnings from Trump that the US could escalate military action and target Iranian infrastructure if a deal is not reached, the source added.
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