The United States and Iran reported some progress in peace talks to end the war that erupted since late February. However, the two sides are now at an impasse due to deep disagreements involving the ownership of Iran's uranium reserves and the proposed implementation of a toll system in the Strait of Hormuz.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that early signs towards a peace agreement are visible, but he stressed that any plan will not be agreed if Iran tries to control the international maritime route. Rubio also warned that President Donald Trump is ready to take "other options" if this path of diplomacy fails.
In a related development, the Iranian news agency (ISNA) reported that the latest draft proposal from the US has succeeded in narrowing the gap between the two warring parties. Tehran is currently examining the proposal based on the 14-point framework plan they presented earlier.
The issue in the Strait of Hormuz remains critical after President Trump strongly rejected the Iran-Oman cooperation plan to build a logistics traffic control payment system. The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic global waterway that normally handles about 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, but is now paralyzed by a joint military blockade.
In addition to the Strait of Hormuz tensions, negotiations have also been hampered after Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, banned the export of weapons-grade uranium abroad. Meanwhile, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group remains on high alert in the Arabian Sea.
