Trump Says Iran Peace Talks to Be Discussed in Doha
US President Donald Trump said peace talks with Iran will resume on Tuesday in Doha, Qatar. This statement came after both countries agreed to halt a series of retaliatory attacks around the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global energy supplies.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Iran had requested a meeting and that discussions would take place in Doha. However, details of the new round of negotiations have not been officially confirmed by either side. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi previously stated that there was no specific schedule and had not yet confirmed Doha as the meeting location.
The latest tensions began after Iran attacked a Singapore-flagged container ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday. The attack prompted the United States to retaliate, triggering a tit-for-tat exchange of attacks between the two countries. Washington and Tehran subsequently accused each other of violating a previous agreement.
A US official said both sides would temporarily halt hostilities to allow ships to resume free movement through the Strait of Hormuz. However, the security situation remains fragile after Iran launched missiles and drones at military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain. Kuwait stated that two missiles were intercepted without causing damage or casualties, while Bahrain reported that one residential building was hit, but no casualties.
This latest attack demonstrates that the US-Iran ceasefire remains highly fragile. This situation has also made shipowners remain cautious about transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Before the war began in late February, about a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supplies passed through the strategic waterway.
Shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz briefly increased after Trump signed a memorandum of understanding on June 17 to end the war. However, activity declined again over the weekend as fewer ships ventured through. This decline indicates that shipping industry players still view security risks as a major threat.
Meanwhile, Iran has also begun discussions with Oman about managing the Strait of Hormuz. The US, Europe, and Gulf Arab states are increasingly concerned about the possibility of additional fees for using the strategic waterway. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously asserted that any levies or fees are unacceptable.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran is fully responsible for restoring traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. He warned that interference from other parties would only exacerbate tensions. Meanwhile, the ceasefire between Israel, Lebanon, and the US remains fragile after the Iran-backed Hezbollah group declared the agreement null and void. (gn)
Source: Newsmaker.id
