Iran will partially close a key oil route, the Strait of Hormuz, while discussing its nuclear program with the U. S. during talks in Geneva. The U. S. has sent military forces to the Gulf, aiming to persuade Iran to agree to certain conditions. President Donald Trump suggested that changing Iran’s regime might be beneficial, while Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, declared that U. S. efforts to remove his government would not succeed.
As the Geneva negotiations began, Iranian media reported a temporary closure of parts of the Strait for military drills conducted by the Revolutionary Guards. Iran has previously warned that it could shut down this strait entirely in response to attacks, potentially halting a significant portion of global oil shipping and driving prices up.
U. S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner participated in the talks alongside Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi. Iranian officials indicated discussions had begun on sanctions and nuclear issues. Esmaeil Baghaei from Iran’s foreign ministry noted the complexities of the issues and the lack of trust between the countries, emphasizing the need for ongoing negotiations.
Trump stated he would indirectly engage in the talks and believed Iran would want to reach an agreement. He mentioned that military action had been necessary in the past to address Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Since U. S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian facilities last June, Iran has experienced internal protests due to economic difficulties caused by sanctions.
Khamenei rejected the idea of U. S. dominance, asserting that the strong can be challenged. The U. S. seeks broader discussions regarding Iran’s missile program, while Iran insists it will only negotiate nuclear restrictions in exchange for easing sanctions and will not abandon its uranium enrichment.
A senior Iranian official remarked that the success of the negotiations relies on the U. S. being reasonable in its demands. Past discussions were interrupted by military actions from Israel, and now the U. S. military is preparing for possible operations against Iran if ordered by Trump.
The situation is complicated by international perceptions, with the U. S. and Israel believing Iran aims to develop nuclear weapons, while Iran claims its nuclear efforts are peaceful and complies with the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Meanwhile, Israel maintains ambiguity regarding its own nuclear capabilities.
With information from Reuters
