Tension grows again around the just days after the United States and Iran signed the memorandum of understanding that opened a 60-day window to negotiate a definitive peace.
Trump He assured this Monday that Washington maintains “total control” over the strategic maritime passage, despite the confusion about its current situation and the statements of Tehran, which maintains that it has closed the strait again after the recent Israeli bombings on positions. linked to in Lebanon.
“We have complete control of the Strait; we have a navy capable of imposing a blockade. I think our blockade had more impact than dropping bombs,” Trump said during an event held at the White House.
The future of Hormuz once again generates uncertainty
The statements come after Iran announced new restrictions on Hormuzone of the most sensitive points of world trade, where a significant part of the oil transported by sea transits.
However, from Washington they insist that maritime traffic continues to operate. In the last hours, the American vice president, who is participating in the negotiations with Tehran in Switzerland, He assured that merchant ships continue using routes to cross the strait.
The situation threatens to become one of the first major obstacles to the implementation of the memorandum signed last week, which specifically contemplates guaranteeing free navigation through Hormuz while both parties negotiate a broader agreement on the Iranian nuclear program and the lifting of sanctions.
New warning to Tehran
Trump He also took the opportunity to remember that the understanding reached with Iran does not represent a blank check.
Asked about the possibility of resuming military actions if Tehran fails to comply with its commitments, the president was blunt.
“If Iran does not comply with the agreement or does not behave as it should, I will do what I have to do”he warned.
The agreement signed between both countries establishes a period of sixty days to reach a definitive pact that regulates future relations between Washington and Tehran, including the conditions of the Iranian nuclear program.
Netanyahu complicates the scenario
Another focus of concern continues to be Lebanon. The negotiations already suffered delays last week after the Israeli attacks on Lebanese territoryan offensive that caused discomfort among the Iranian delegation and forced the temporary postponement of some meetings scheduled in Switzerland.
Added to this are the recent statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has warned that he has no intention of withdrawing troops from the occupied areas in the south of the country.
Trump tried to downplay the importance of those words, although he avoided specifying how he plans to manage differences with one of his main allies in the region. “What am I going to do? I don’t know yet. But I’m someone who solves problems. I solve them very quickly, even with Bibi.”“, he said, using the nickname by which the Israeli leader is usually known.
The next few weeks will be decisive to verify whether the dialogue process between Washington and Tehran manages to consolidate or if events on the ground once again endanger a negotiation that has only just begun.
