Phoenix 24
Diplomacy resumes while military tensions remain dangerously unresolved.
WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES — July 2026. President Donald Trump said the United States has accepted Iran’s request to continue negotiations, while making clear that the ceasefire between the two countries is no longer in effect. Trump announced the decision through Truth Social after several days of renewed military confrontation across the Gulf.
The escalation began after three Qatari and Saudi commercial tankers were attacked near the Strait of Hormuz. Washington responded with strikes against Iranian military sites, while Tehran later targeted United States military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait. No new attacks were reported on Friday, creating a temporary pause without restoring the truce.
Iranian negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said Tehran would not end the conflict through surrender and warned that the country was prepared for full-scale defense. Qatari mediators traveled to Iran to revive negotiations and address disputes over commercial navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi is also expected to hold regional talks in Oman.
The strategic waterway handled approximately one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments before the conflict. Tanker traffic has fallen sharply following the latest attacks, increasing pressure on energy markets and international shipping. The United States maintains that diplomacy remains its preferred route for resolving concerns surrounding Iran’s nuclear program.
The negotiations remain alive, but the ceasefire protecting them has disappeared.