The two parties have observed a ceasefire since April 8, after almost 40 days of bombings by the United States and Israel against Iran, and Iranian reprisals against the Gulf monarchies, allies of Washington.
An Iranian military command warned, this Saturday (2), that a resumption of hostilities with the United States is “likely”, after American President Donald Trump said he was dissatisfied with Tehran’s latest proposal to end the conflict.
The two parties have observed a ceasefire since April 8, after almost 40 days of bombings by the United States and Israel against Iran, and Iranian reprisals against the Gulf monarchies, allies of Washington.
Islamabad hosted a first round of direct talks on April 11. But it did not produce any results, as the positions remain very distant over the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran intends to charge a toll for the passage of ships, and the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.
This week, Iran transmitted a new text through Pakistan, which acts as mediator. No details about the content of the proposal were disclosed.
But the American president, who on Thursday was informed by his army of the different options on the table, was quick to disregard this new initiative.
“Right now, I’m not satisfied with what they’re offering,” Trump told reporters on Friday, blaming “tremendous discord” within the Iranian leadership for the stalled talks.
“Do we want to go in there and just crush them and end them for good, or do we want to try to reach an agreement? I mean, those are the options,” he replied, when asked about the next steps.
“It is likely that the conflict with the United States will be resumed, and the facts demonstrate that the United States does not respect any promise or agreement,” Mohamad Jafar Asadi, deputy inspector of the central military command Jatam al Anbiya, said in this regard on Saturday, cited by the Iranian agency Fars.
“The armed forces are perfectly prepared to face any possible opportunism or reckless action on the part of the Americans”, emphasized this military command.
Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that “now the ball is in the court of the United States, which must choose between the diplomatic path or the continuation of the confrontational approach.”
Tehran is “prepared” for either scenario, he added.
No strategy
Theoretically, Donald Trump had until Friday to request authorization from the United States Congress to continue the war, which began on February 28 together with Israel.
Instead, he chose to send a letter to legislative leaders to notify them that hostilities against Iran “have ended.”
Several Democratic congressmen highlighted, however, that the presence of American forces in the region indicates otherwise.
The USS Gerald Ford, the largest aircraft carrier in the world, has already left the Middle East, but 20 US Navy ships remain in the region, including two other aircraft carriers.
The war has caused thousands of deaths, mainly in Iran and Lebanon, where Israel continues its attacks on the pro-Iranian movement Hezbollah, despite a truce.
The repercussions of the conflict continue to shake the world economy. Oil prices reached their highest level in four years this week, with a barrel of Brent at US$126 (R$628.56).
Tehran almost completely closed the passage through the Strait of Hormuz, through which, before the war, 20% of the hydrocarbons consumed in the world passed. In retaliation, Washington maintains a naval blockade of Iranian ports.
Iran’s Parliament is preparing a law that would place Hormuz under the authority of the Armed Forces, ban the passage of Israeli boats and establish transit rights.
The American government warned that anyone who pays tolls to Tehran to cross the strait would expose themselves to sanctions, and also announced new fines against Iranian interests.
The disturbances of war are also diplomatic and reach Europe.
The Pentagon announced on Friday the withdrawal of around 5,000 troops in Germany within a year. This is a significant reduction in the American military presence on a continent restive by Russian ambitions and the United States’ commitment to NATO.
Trump expressed irritation with statements by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who recently said that Washington has “no strategy” in Iran and that the Islamic Republic “humiliated” the main world power.
New executions
Although thanks to the truce, Iranians have managed to regain some normality, their daily lives are made difficult by inflation, which has skyrocketed, as well as unemployment, in a country already affected by decades of international sanctions.
Amir, aged 40, says that he starts the day “seeing the news, and the new executions”, carried out by Iranian power.
This Saturday, the Court announced the hanging of two men accused of spying for Israel.
“I have the impression of being trapped in purgatory,” Amir told AFP. “The United States and Israel will end up attacking us again”, while “the world closes its eyes”.
