Boats in the Strait of Hormuz, seen from Musandam, in Oman — Photo: REUTERS/Stringer
Iran once again defended, this Sunday (27), a diplomatic way out of the conflict with the United States and Israel.
The demonstration took place after US President Donald Trump said he rejected an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the fighting.
"Our conditions are clear, and any move to reopen the Strait of Hormuz depends on meeting these conditions," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi wrote on social media. "Only a negotiated solution can remove the parties from this impasse."
Last week, during the UN General Assembly in New York, Iran announced a peace proposal that, according to Tehran, was forwarded to the United States through Qatari mediators. On Saturday, Trump said he had rejected the plan and claimed that military pressure was leading the Iranians to seek an agreement to reopen the important sea route.
"They want to make a deal to open the Strait of Hormuz immediately because they are losing badly," Trump told reporters at the White House.
Despite the US president's public statements, Araqchi stated that Iran has not yet received an official response from the United States through diplomatic channels.
"We are waiting for the mediators to convey their definitive positions to us and we will make a decision based on them," wrote the minister.
The United States maintains an economic blockade against Iran and pressures Tehran to stop attacks on vessels crossing the Strait of Hormuz. The clashes have significantly reduced shipping traffic in the region, despite Trump repeatedly asserting that the US controls the waterway.
The commander-in-chief of the Iranian Army, Amir Hatam, stated that the war is going through a "critical and decisive" phase and reiterated that the country will not accept a situation in which it is prevented from selling its products while other powers continue to use the region's strategic routes.
"If Iran cannot trade, if Iran cannot live, no one can trade or live," he said, according to Iranian state media.
Saudi Arabia also faces pressure
Previous attempts at negotiation have failed to end the conflict, which began on February 28 with attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran.
Since then, the war has alternated between periods of truce and new offensives. The conflict has already left thousands dead, weakened Iranian conventional forces and worsened the country's economic problems.
In response, Iran and its allies have expanded the dispute to other parts of the Middle East. Tehran has carried out drone and missile attacks against US allies in the Gulf region, while Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have attacked targets linked to Saudi Arabia.
This month, Saudi Arabia began to face greater pressure with the advance of the Houthis in Yemen. According to reports, the fighters achieved victories against forces from the Saudi-backed Yemeni government and began to threaten routes linked to oil exports through the Red Sea.
Amid rising tensions, residents of Riyadh reported receiving communications from schools stating that classes would be held remotely throughout the week.
The messages did not explain the reason for the measure. Saudi authorities also did not immediately comment.
Meanwhile, the Houthi-controlled Ministry of Health reported that seven people were killed and another 40 injured, including children, in an attack that targeted commercial establishments in the Mawiya crossing region in Yemen's southwestern Taiz province.
Hours later, Yemen's internationally recognized government said its forces carried out an operation against a Houthi military camp and vehicles located in the same area.
