Iran said it will control passage through the Strait of Hormuz after former President Donald Trump announced a two-week suspension of attacks contingent on Iran reopening the waterway. Tehran’s deputy foreign minister said Iran’s armed forces would oversee coordination for safe transit and claimed the U.S. accepted a "general framework" of a 10-point proposal that includes lifting sanctions and a fee of about $2 million per ship. Negotiations are scheduled to begin Friday in Islamabad, while markets reacted strongly — oil fell roughly 15% and S&P 500 futures jumped over 2%. Casualty reports list 13 U.S. service members killed and at least 1,665 Iranian civilian deaths, including 244 children.
Iran Claims Control Of Strait Of Hormuz After Trump Pauses Attacks
Evan Vucci / REUTERS(Evan Vucci)
Iran staged a defiant response after former President Donald Trump announced a two-week suspension of attacks on Tehran, saying the pause was contingent on Iran allowing safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran’s deputy foreign minister said Iran’s armed forces would continue to control transit through the strategic waterway.
What Happened
At 6:32 p.m. on Tuesday, Trump said he would suspend attacks on Iran for two weeks "subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz." He posted a statement from Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, to his Truth Social account, where he has roughly 12 million followers.
"For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordinating with Iran’s Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations," Araghchi said.
Araghchi also said the United States had accepted the "general framework" of Iran’s 10-point peace proposal, which reportedly calls for lifting all sanctions and includes a controversial fee of about $2 million per ship transiting the strait. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital chokepoint through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil and gas supplies pass.
Trump posted the statement from Iran's foreign minister on his own Truth Social account, declaring it the
Diplomatic and Market Reactions
Trump framed the pause as a diplomatic step, saying the 10-point proposal "is a workable basis on which to negotiate" and that a two-week window would allow the agreement to be finalized. He also asserted that U.S. military objectives had been met and that negotiators were "very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East."
The first round of negotiations is expected Friday in Islamabad, Pakistan, according to Axios global affairs correspondent Barak Ravid. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News that in-person talks were being discussed but that "nothing is final until announced by the President or the White House." The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Beast.
Markets reacted sharply to the sudden policy shift: reports say the price of a barrel of oil fell by roughly 15% after the announcement, while S&P 500 futures rose more than 2%.
Trump announced his deadline U-Turn at 6:32 p.m. on Tuesday. / Donald Trump/Truth Social
Human Cost
The conflict has already exacted a toll. Since the hostilities began at the end of February, U.S. forces have lost 13 service members, with hundreds more wounded. Reporting from the Human Rights Activists News Agency indicates at least 1,665 Iranian civilians — including 244 children — had been killed through Monday, at the start of the sixth week of fighting.
Context And Notes
Trump’s messaging on the strait has been inconsistent: he has at times downplayed its importance, saying the U.S. "imports almost no oil through" the waterway, while at other times threatening Iran with destruction if it blocked passage. Some reports say U.S. planners did not expect Iran to close the strait and had anticipated Tehran would concede earlier in the confrontation.
Sources: Statements shared by the Trump Truth Social post; reporting from The Times, Axios, The Daily Beast, Fox News, and the Human Rights Activists News Agency.
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