https://arab.news/55pry
- Speaker Qalibaf cites “gaps” despite improved mutual understanding
- Trump also cites “very good conversations” with Tehran while warning against “blackmail” over Hormuz
TEHRAN/WASHINGTON: Iran’s top negotiator said recent talks with the US had made progress but gaps remained over nuclear issues and the Strait of Hormuz, while President Donald Trump cited “very good conversations” with Tehran despite warning against “blackmail” over the key shipping channel.
Neither side offered any specifics about the state of negotiations on Saturday, days before a fragile ceasefire in the US-Israeli war against Iran is set to expire.
The war, now in its eighth week, has killed thousands, spread to Israeli attacks in Lebanon and sent oil prices surging because of the de facto closure of the strait, which before the war carried one-fifth of the world’s oil shipments.
“We have had progress but there is still a big distance between us,” Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Baqher Qalibaf, told state media, referring to talks last weekend. “There are some issues on which we insist ... They also have red lines. But these issues could be just one or two.”
Trump said the US was having “very good conversations” but gave no other details.
Tehran reversed course on Saturday to reassert control over the strait, again closing the energy choke point and adding fresh uncertainty to the war, which the US and Israel launched on February 28.
“If America does not lift the blockade, traffic in the Strait of Hormuz will definitely be limited,” Qalibaf said.
Iran said it was responding to a continued US blockade of Iranian ports, calling it a violation of the ceasefire, while Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said Iran’s navy was ready to inflict “new bitter defeats” on its enemies. Trump called the move “blackmail” even as he praised the talks.
On Friday, Iran had announced the temporary reopening of the Strait of Hormuz following a separate US-brokered 10-day ceasefire agreement on Thursday between Israel and Lebanon.
Trump defended the US blockade and threatened "to start dropping bombs again" unless the countries reached a long-term deal before the ceasefire expires on Wednesday.
Trump, speaking to reporters at a White House event, accused Iran of getting “a little cute” with its recent moves and warned Tehran not to try to “blackmail” Washington with its flip-flopping on the Strait of Hormuz.
“We have very good conversations going on,” the president said, adding that the United States was “taking a tough stand.”
Iran's Supreme National Security Council said Tehran's control over the strait included demanding the payment of costs related to security, safety and environmental protection services, state media said.
Qalibaf struck a sharply critical tone toward Trump, accusing him of making false statements about the negotiations.
“In one hour, the US president made seven statements, and all seven were lies,” Qalibaf wrote on social media on Saturday, adding that Washington would not succeed in talks through misinformation.
His remarks came as Tehran confirmed it is reviewing new proposals presented by the US through Pakistani mediation. A statement from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said the offers were delivered following a visit by Asim Munir, and that no response had yet been issued.
Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf (C) speaking with Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir (L) during their meeting in Tehran on April 16. (Iran Parliament handout photo/via AFP)
Iran stressed its negotiating team would not compromise on core interests, signaling a firm stance despite ongoing diplomacy.
Meanwhile, Trump chaired a high-level meeting to discuss the strategic Strait of Hormuz and the status of negotiations, highlighting the broader regional stakes.
Tensions between the United States and Iran have fluctuated for decades, rooted in geopolitical rivalry, sanctions, and disputes over Iran’s nuclear and regional policies. Efforts to reach agreements — including the landmark 2015 nuclear deal — have repeatedly faced setbacks, particularly after Washington’s withdrawal from the accord in 2018.
Recent diplomacy has intensified amid heightened instability in the Middle East, where conflict dynamics and maritime security concerns — especially around the Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit route — have raised global alarm.
Pakistan has emerged as an intermediary in the latest round of contacts, reflecting broader regional efforts to prevent escalation and stabilize energy flows.
Despite periodic signals of progress, negotiations have often stalled over core issues such as sanctions relief, security guarantees, and the scope of any potential agreement — leaving the path to a durable deal uncertain.