Trump orders halt to talks with Iran amid escalating tensions over the Strait of Hormuz

WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 (YPA) – US President Donald Trump has ordered his top envoys to halt talks with Iran, a move reflecting escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran, as Tehran insists on its conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

CNN quoted a US official as saying that Trump had failed for weeks to make progress with Iran before adopting a new approach by stopping his top envoys from negotiating with Tehran.

On the 63rd day of the Memorandum of Understanding and the 172nd day since the outbreak of hostilities, Trump reiterated his claim that the Strait of Hormuz could be considered “American territory,” and posted a map of the strait with this title on Truth Social, asserting that it is open. This position contradicts previous Iranian statements that it would be closed to navigation.

In contrast, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stipulated that the reopening of the strait would require lifting the embargo, releasing frozen funds, removing restrictions on oil exports, and ending military threats.

Advisor to the Supreme Leader Mohammad Mokhbar confirmed Tehran’s openness to dialogue but rejected the conflation of negotiation and surrender, stressing that pressure and sanctions would not force Iran to back down.

In contrast, Reuters quoted Iranian officials as saying that the leadership in Tehran was concerned about the repercussions of possible new sanctions that could worsen living conditions, increase unrest, and weaken confidence in the regime despite its resilience during the war.