The Trump administration is demanding that the Iranian government issue an explicit public statement affirming that the Strait of Hormuz is fully open and committing to an immediate cessation of strikes on commercial vessels, according to a report by Axios.
The ultimatum has been transmitted to Tehran via both direct diplomatic channels and regional intermediaries, three US officials disclosed during a press briefing on Friday.
The development comes after Iran violated a bilateral memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed just three weeks ago by repeatedly firing on commercial ships transiting the strategic shipping lane.
In response, President Donald Trump earlier this week authorized a series of military strikes against targets in Iran.
On Friday, Trump said that Iran had asked to continue talks, but stated that the ceasefire is over.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked us to continue ‘talks.’ We have agreed to do so, but the United States has stated to them, in no uncertain terms, that the Cease Fire is OVER!" the President wrote in a post on Truth Social.
American officials cited by Axios argue that if Tehran cannot honor basic maritime commitments, it raises profound doubts about its capability to execute a far more intricate nuclear pact.
According to US officials, Iranian representatives privately admitted that radical factions within the regime initiated the ship attacks in a rogue bid to reclaim that lost leverage. Publicly, however, Iranian diplomats, Revolutionary Guard commanders, and senior figures have maintained a unified front, demanding that Tehran retain absolute authority over navigation through the strait.
Behind closed doors, a US official quoted in the report that the Iranians initiated contact with the administration following two days of intense military skirmishes earlier in the week, asking for further dialogue
"They told us, 'We screwed up. We made a mistake. Let's keep talking,'" the official alleged.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei vigorously denied that account on Friday, rejecting claims that Iran requested a fresh round of talks with the US and asserting that Tehran merely agreed to a Qatari-mediated proposal to hold discussions within Iran.
Nevertheless, US sources insist a fierce internal power struggle is underway in Tehran regarding how to handle negotiations with the Trump administration.
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