Source: Wall Street News
The US Secretary of State stated that Iran's so-called openness regarding the Strait of Hormuz is actually an attempt to control the waterway. Trump’s national security team met on Monday to discuss Iran’s proposal. The White House reiterated Trump’s stance: the US holds the initiative and will never allow Iran to possess nuclear weapons. According to reports, Iran has put forward a new plan, under which the conflict could be resolved if the US lifts its maritime blockade, establishes a new legal framework for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, and guarantees no further military action against Iran. The Russian President’s press secretary noted that resuming hostilities does not serve the interests of Iran, the littoral states of the Strait of Hormuz, or the global economy. Iran’s Foreign Minister stated that his meeting with Putin went very smoothly, including detailed discussions on the US-Iran-Israel conflict.
The negotiation game between the US and Iran over the control of the Strait of Hormuz continues to escalate, with significant divergence in their positions.
According to CCTV News, Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi, who is visiting Russia, said on Monday, the 27th local time, that the US has requested negotiations and Iran is currently considering this option. Araghchi pointed out that Iran is resisting the world's largest superpower, and the US has failed to achieve any of its goals. This is precisely why the US has requested negotiations, and Iran is currently considering this option.
Also on Monday, according to US media reports, US Secretary of State Rubio stated that Iran proposed a plan to reopen shipping in the Strait of Hormuz under strict conditions, which is unacceptable to the US and other parties.
During the midday trading of the US stock market on Monday, White House Press Secretary Leavitt stated that President Trump's national security team held a meeting on Monday to discuss Iran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. She did not disclose the specific outcome of the discussion or indicate how Iran's proposal was received, only stating that Trump would later comment on the matter.
Early Monday morning Beijing time, according to CCTV News, Iran conveyed a three-phase negotiation plan to the US through intermediaries. This plan will completely end the war, address the arrangement for the control of the strait, and proceed to nuclear issue negotiations in sequence. It explicitly states that Iran will not participate in nuclear issue negotiations until agreements are reached in the first two phases. This directly conflicts with the Trump administration’s stance of requiring the inclusion of the Iranian nuclear issue in any agreement, resulting in a deadlock in negotiations.
Danny Citrinowicz, a senior researcher at the independent think tank Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University, commented that both the US and Iran have adopted extremely tough stances, and unless the US changes its position, it is unlikely to achieve any breakthrough at present. Citrinowicz said: “I seriously doubt whether the US will accept this proposal, because once accepted, the leverage the US holds on the nuclear issue will be completely lost.”
Rubio: Iran’s So-Called Opening of the Strait Is Actually Controlling the Strait
According to reports, during an interview with US media on Monday, Rubio strongly criticized Iran’s proposal for the Strait of Hormuz. He stated that Iran’s definition of this strategic waterway is fundamentally different from that of most countries in the world.
Rubio said: “If what they (Iran) call opening the strait means, ‘Yes, the strait is open, but only if you coordinate with Iran, get our permission, otherwise we will blow you up, and you also have to pay us,’ that is not opening the strait. Iran wants to decide who can use the strait and how much users need to pay, and they want to normalize this system. We cannot let them succeed.”
Rubio further emphasized that the Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway, and the US cannot tolerate Iran normalizing this control system or allowing Iran to decide who has the right to use international waterways and charge corresponding fees.
Iran proposes a three-phase plan, with nuclear talks as the final stage; the White House states that Trump holds the initiative and will never allow Iran to possess nuclear weapons.
According to CCTV News, Iran has conveyed a three-phase negotiation framework to the United States through intermediaries.
The focus of the first phase of negotiations is to completely end the war and obtain guarantees to prevent renewed hostilities against Iran and Lebanon.
If an agreement is reached in the first phase, all parties will move to the second phase, which will be dedicated to studying how to manage the Strait of Hormuz.
The third phase involves discussions related to the nuclear issue, but Iran will not participate in nuclear negotiations until agreements are reached in the first two phases.
According to U.S. media reports, Iran also communicated through Pakistan to the United States that the conflict could end under the conditions of the U.S. lifting the maritime blockade, reaching a new legal framework for passage through the strait, and guaranteeing no further military action against Iran, leaving nuclear negotiations to be handled subsequently.
In response, the White House reiterated in a statement sent to U.S. media that Trump has stated, 'The United States holds the initiative and will only reach an agreement that prioritizes the interests of the American people, and will never allow Iran to possess nuclear weapons.' Trump had previously indicated that the Iranian nuclear issue must be addressed as part of any agreement, otherwise the maritime blockade would continue.
Russia states that resuming hostilities is not in the interest of Iran, the Gulf states along the Strait of Hormuz, or the global economy; Iranian Foreign Minister says meeting with Putin went very smoothly.
According to Xinhua News Agency citing Russian media, Russian President's Press Secretary Peskov said on Monday, the 27th, that Russia is willing to mediate in a manner acceptable to all parties involved in the Iranian conflict, making every effort to ensure that peace ultimately arrives and is safeguarded, avoiding the rekindling of war. Under any circumstances, Russia welcomes continued negotiations and maintaining the ceasefire, as resuming hostilities does not serve the interests of Iran, the countries along the Strait of Hormuz, or the global economy.
According to U.S. media, Araghchi stated during a meeting with Putin in Moscow that the Iranian people have the capability to resist 'American aggression' and will overcome it, emphasizing a commitment to deepening the partnership between Iran and Russia.
It was reported that Araghchi noted his meeting with Putin included a detailed discussion of the conflict involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran. In a statement published on Monday, Araghchi described the meeting as 'very smooth.' He revealed that the meeting lasted 'more than an hour and a half,' covering a wide range of topics, including bilateral relations, regional developments, and opportunities for expanding cooperation.
Araghchi pointed out that cooperation between Iran and Russia is highly valued, and during their meeting, both he and Putin proposed 'very good ideas,' and currently, a 'very solid foundation' has been laid for future work.
Impact of conflict: Iran suspends export of certain steel products.
The impact of the conflict has spread to Iran's industrial production.
According to reports by Xinhua News Agency, the Iran Trade Promotion Organization issued a statement on the 27th, announcing that Iran has suspended the export of certain steel products, including billets and steel plates. The ban will last until May 30 and may be extended. This decision was implemented based on resolutions passed by Iran's Ministry of Industry, Mines, and Trade and the Supreme National Security Council.
The statement pointed out that two large steel plants located in Isfahan Province and Khuzestan Province were recently attacked by the United States and Israel, causing partial shutdowns. Previously, Iran had already banned the overseas sale of certain chemicals, petrochemical products, and polymer products.
Editor/Rocky