Meanwhile, Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has strongly criticised US President Donald Trump, alleging he was indulging in “theatre diplomacy” while ongoing talks are aimed at opening the crucial Strait of Hormuz again.
In a post on X, Ghalibaf ridiculed Trump’s repeated threats of military escalation with “Massive attack coming… on loop. Bullying, broken promises and fake news have proven ineffective as diplomatic tools, he added, and Washington should keep to its commitments rather than resort to ‘political theatre’.
The Strait of Hormuz, where almost 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquified natural gas (LNG) imports travel, has been an important flashpoint of the current conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel. An Iranian official has stated that talks with Oman to resume shipping via the waterway are nearing completion, while the U.S. has yet to make an official statement.
Iran has asked for transit fees of 5-7 per cent on goods going through the strait, while Oman has offered an alternate fee system, according to reports. The United States is said to be opposed to any discrimination and claims Iran should not be responsible for access to the vital global shipping route.
In the meantime, Iran has denounced the Gulf countries for offering to respond to any further military action by the U.S. against energy infrastructure in the region. However, President Trump reiterated his support for diplomacy, but said if there was no success through the talks, military action is the option.
The agreement on the Persian gulf may have a major impact on the region’s geopolitical and energy security.