Iran casts doubt on seriousness of US diplomacy in Middle East
Iran questioned the seriousness of American diplomacy in the ongoing negotiations to resolve the conflict in the Middle East on Saturday, without revealing its response to the latest Washington proposal.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, expressed this skepticism during a telephone call with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, following new clashes in the strategic waters of the Gulf.
“The recent escalation of tensions by American forces and their multiple violations of the ceasefire, reinforce suspicions about the motivation and seriousness of the American side on the path of diplomacy,” stated Mr. Araghchi, as reported by the Iranian agency ISNA.
In Washington, President Donald Trump mentioned on Friday that he was expecting a response from the Iranians to a proposal aimed at permanently ending hostilities. “I should receive a letter tonight, so we will see how it goes,” he assured journalists.
The spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Esma’il Baghaei, as reported by state television, indicated that Iran was still studying the American proposal.
– Naval Clashes –
Earlier on Friday, the US military announced that they had “neutralized” two Iranian oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic passage for global hydrocarbon trade. Although the vessels were not carrying cargo according to the military, images released by the US Central Command show thick columns of smoke emanating from the pilot houses.
Tehran denounced a “flagrant violation” of the ceasefire established a month earlier to the UN.
A military source cited by the Tasnim news agency confirmed that Iranian forces had retaliated: “After a period of exchanges of fire, the clashes have currently ceased and calm has been restored,” the source noted.
Exchange of strikes had already occurred the previous day.
Since the outbreak of the conflict on February 28th, Iran has blockaded the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Washington to respond by imposing a blockade on Iranian ports.
The war has resulted in thousands of deaths, primarily in Iran and Lebanon, and has shaken the global economy.
The standoff between Tehran and Washington has significantly disrupted maritime traffic and caused oil prices to soar. The Brent crude oil barrel from the North Sea ended the week once again above $100.
– Casualty in Lebanon –
On the other front of the conflict in Lebanon, Israeli and pro-Iranian Hezbollah continue their daily mutual attacks, despite the ceasefire in effect since April 17, which both sides accuse each other of violating.
The Israeli military again instructed on Saturday the immediate evacuation of several locations in the southern part of the country in preparation for attacks against the Shiite movement. The Lebanese news agency Ani later reported a series of Israeli strikes in the region.
According to the Ministry of Health in Lebanon, one of these strikes targeted a motorcycle in the city of Nabatiyeh, outside the designated evacuation zones, resulting in the death of a Syrian national and serious injury to his 12-year-old daughter.
While riding the motorcycle, they were reportedly targeted twice by a drone, which killed the man. The drone then aimed directly at the girl “for a third time,” denouncing “deliberate violence against civilians and children.”
Hezbollah dragged Beirut into the war on March 2, by resuming attacks on Israel in support of its Iranian ally, following the joint offensive of the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic.
Israeli strikes in Lebanon have caused 2,750 deaths since the beginning of the war, according to the latest report from the Ministry of Health published on Friday, as well as over one million displaced individuals.
New discussions between the two neighboring countries – still technically at war – are scheduled in Washington on May 14 and 15. Hezbollah opposes these talks.
“Consolidating the ceasefire” is among the “essential objectives” that Lebanon expects from this third negotiation session with Israel, stated Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi.
