Iran has said that the Strait of Hormuz is “impossible” to reopen due to what it calls ceasefire violations by the US and Israel.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of the Iranian parliament and lead negotiator, wrote on X: “A complete ceasefire only makes sense if it is not violated by the maritime blockade and the hostage-taking of the world’s economy.... reopening the Strait of Hormuz is impossible with such a flagrant breach of the ceasefire.”
On Wednesday, US Navy secretary John Phelan left the Trump administration, marking another high-level departure in US security leadership amid the ongoing war with Iran. A Pentagon spokesman said the department is “grateful to Secretary Phelan for his service to the Department and the United States Navy” without providing a reason for the departure.
His exit follows recent shake-ups, including the firing of the US army’s chief of staff, the resignation of a top counterterrorism official, and other dismissals of senior generals by Pete Hegseth.
Earlier, the White House said the US blockade of Iran’s ports was “incredibly effective” at choking Iran’s economy and pressurising it into joining peace talks.
Trump has said fresh talks with Tehran could begin within two days, despite Iranian officials demanding an end to the blockade of its ports as a condition for negotiations to restart.
