The Iranian team, led by chief negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, arrived with senior security and financial officials to address the 14-point interim deal brokered by Pakistan. Despite the agreement, Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps declared the Strait of Hormuz closed, warning that shipping lanes are at risk. U.S. Central Command reported that 55 merchant vessels transited the waterway on Saturday, maintaining that U.S. forces will ensure the flow of oil and cargo remains uninterrupted.
President Donald Trump signaled that the U.S. might impose tolls on the Strait if peace talks collapse, framing the potential levy as payment for services as a regional "Guardian Angel." Meanwhile, Mohammad Mokhber, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, accused Washington of violating the ceasefire by failing to halt hostilities in Lebanon. The situation on the ground remains volatile; Lebanese Civil Defence reported 20 deaths from Israeli strikes on Saturday, while the Israeli military stated it continues to respond to Hezbollah fire. With Israel maintaining its presence in occupied Lebanese territory and asserting it is not bound by the U.S.-Iran deal, the path to a lasting regional de-escalation appears increasingly narrow.
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