US President Donald Trump said that Iran “opened fire” in the Strait of Hormuz, thereby “violating” a ceasefire agreement between the countries.
Trump's statement is reported by Reuters.
“Iran decided to fire in the Strait of Hormuz yesterday – a complete violation of our Ceasefire Agreement! That was ugly, wasn't it?” Trump said.
Trump said that Iran's military allegedly fired on a French vessel and a British cargo ship.
“We are offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they accept it, because if they don't, the United States will take down every power plant and every bridge in Iran,” Donald Trump said.
On April 20, talks between representatives of the United States and Iran are planned in Pakistan regarding an agreement to end the war that the United States and Israel began on February 28.
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Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said that negotiations with the United States are “slowing down” due to the US's “maximalist demands.”
He also stated that Iran would not hand over its enriched uranium to the United States, thereby contradicting Trump's statements about Iran's refusal to give up enriched uranium.
“I can say that no enriched material will be sent to the United States. This is unrealistic, and I can assure you that while we are ready to address any concerns that we have, we are not going to agree to things that are unrealistic to implement,” said Saeed Khatibzadeh.
On April 17, the Iranian government announced that it was unblocking the Strait of Hormuz for the duration of the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, which was adopted on April 16.
Trump confirmed the opening of the strait by Iran, but stated that the naval blockade of the strait by the US Navy would continue, as the blockade relates to the war the US is waging against Iran.
On April 18, Iran's military command announced the restoration of “strict control” over the Strait of Hormuz, accusing the US of blocking its ships.
Israeli and US military operation against Iran
On February 28, Israel attacked the Iranian capital Tehran. US President Donald Trump later said that the US military had launched a “major combat operation” against Iran to “eliminate imminent threats from the Iranian regime”. He accused the Iranian government of “funding and training” militants in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Hamas in Palestine. According to him, the aim of the military operation is to “destroy Iran's missile industry and navy” and “ensure that the world cannot be destabilised”.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had launched missiles and drones towards Israel, and also attacked US military bases in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The European Union said it reaffirmed its “unwavering commitment to ensuring regional security and stability” in the Middle East.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said it was fair to give the Iranians a chance to get rid of “the terrorist regime and guarantee the security of all peoples who have suffered from attacks from Iran.”
On February 28, Trump announced that Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was dead, a claim later confirmed by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
On March 1, the IRGC announced that it was launching “the most devastating offensive operation in the history of the Islamic Republic” against Israel and “American terrorist bases.” Trump called on the Iranian regime to abandon these plans and threatened to strike “a very strong blow” in response.
On March 6, Trump declared the need for a complete change in Iran's leadership, adding that he already had several candidates for the role of “a good leader.” On March 8, Iran's Assembly of Experts elected the son of the assassinated Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Mojtaba Khamenei, as the third supreme leader of the Islamic Republic.
On March 26, President Trump announced that he would suspend the destruction of Iranian energy facilities until April 6. However, due to the lack of progress in concluding the agreement, Trump extended the deadline by 20 hours, until the evening of April 7.
Trump has threatened to destroy all bridges and power plants in Iran, as well as take other measures that will have devastating consequences for the Iranians and provoke a dangerous response throughout the region.
On April 6, Iran provided the US and Israel with a separate 10-point plan to end the war over Pakistan.
On April 7, Trump announced that he had agreed to suspend bombing of Iran and postpone a “devastating attack” on it for two weeks if the Strait of Hormuz was unblocked. He said the ceasefire would be bilateral and that Iran's 10-point proposal was an acceptable basis for negotiations.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz within two weeks is possible “under the conditions of coordination with the Iranian armed forces and taking into account technical limitations.”
On April 11, trilateral talks between the United States and Iran, brokered by Pakistan, were held in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. Following the talks, Vance said the parties had failed to reach an agreement on a lasting end to the war. The Iranian Foreign Ministry said at the time that disagreements on “two or three key issues” had prevented this.
Negotiations between the US and Iran and Trump's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz
On April 11, talks between representatives of Iran and the United States took place in Pakistan. They did not agree to end the war because, according to Vice President J.D. Vance, the Iranian authorities refused to shut down their nuclear program.
Trump then announced that the US Navy would begin a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz on April 13 due to the failure of negotiations with Iran to agree on giving up its nuclear weapons. He said that the US military would intercept all ships that had paid Iran a toll to pass through the strait.
He also warned Iran that if its military began attacking American warships, the US Navy would “send the Iranians to hell.”