Iran is considering a short-term pause in shipments through the Strait of Hormuz to avoid testing the American naval blockade and compromising a new round of peace talks, according to a person familiar with Tehran’s internal deliberations interviewed by Bloomberg.
The possible pause reflects Iran’s desire to avoid immediate escalation at a delicate diplomatic moment while Washington and Tehran work out logistics for a new face-to-face meeting, said the source, who requested anonymity because these are private discussions. The Iranian embassy in the UK and the Foreign Office in Tehran did not respond to requests for comment.
The US and Iran are considering new negotiations to extend the ceasefire before the truce expires next week, according to Bloomberg. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump is moving forward with a naval blockade to curb oil exports from the Islamic Republic.
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Suspending maritime activity for a few days is seen as a possible and pragmatic step to avoid an incident that could undermine fragile efforts to resume talks, people familiar with the matter said. The Iranian calculation, however, remains open. The Revolutionary Guard could quickly change course, for example by trying to demonstrate that the American blockade can be challenged without consequences, a move that would risk compromising the diplomatic path.
Oil traders closely monitor any transit through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, with Tehran blocking virtually all non-Iranian maritime traffic and the US conducting its own blockade. Until now, Iran was virtually the only country to send oil through the passage during the conflict.
A pause would highlight the tightrope that Iran is trying to walk as it seeks to project determination without provoking a confrontation that could close the still open diplomatic window.
©2026 Bloomberg L.P.
