Al Jazeera Says “No Solid Agreement Yet” as Talks Stall Over Strait of Hormuz

[Financial News]

Al Jazeera reported that the United States of America (U.S.) and the Islamic Republic of Iran continued cease-fire talks past midnight into the 12th (local time), but have yet to reach a solid agreement.
By 2 a.m., many issues between the two sides had reached an impasse, and these matters still remain unresolved.
In particular, the gap between the two sides over the Strait of Hormuz is reportedly not narrowing.
According to Al Jazeera, the two parties appear to have reached a kind of negotiating framework. However, this framework is not truly comprehensive and does not cover all of the contentious issues between them.
Although both sides have agreed on broad guidelines and moved into working-level talks, there are concerns that deep differences at the technical level could make a final agreement difficult.
However, Cable News Network (CNN) reported that the overall mood of the negotiations remains largely positive.

The cease-fire negotiations began around 5:30 p.m. the previous day at the Serena Hotel Islamabad in Islamabad, under the mediation of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
Chaired by Pakistani Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, the U.S. side included Vice President James David Vance, White House envoy Steven Charles Witkoff, and President Donald John Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. From the Islamic Republic of Iran, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi took part.
About an hour after the face-to-face talks began, the two sides brought in experts and launched technical discussions. An hour later they briefly recessed, then resumed negotiations after dinner.
These discussions continued for more than four hours. The parties then wrapped up this first phase of talks and exchanged written documents summarizing their respective positions.

The biggest sticking point is the issue of the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), the United States of America (U.S.) is insisting that the strait must be opened immediately, while the Islamic Republic of Iran maintains that it can only be opened after a final agreement on a peace regime is reached.
Earlier, the Iranian delegation reportedly told Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif that recognizing Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz, lifting the freeze on its overseas assets, and paying war reparations were non-negotiable red lines.
The United States of America (U.S.) believes that the only real leverage the Islamic Republic of Iran holds is the Strait of Hormuz and has therefore begun mine-clearing operations.
United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that it had launched mine-clearing operations and sent two missile destroyers through the Strait of Hormuz into the Persian Gulf.

While the cease-fire talks are struggling over the Strait of Hormuz issue, the State of Israel continues to throw obstacles in the way.
In a televised address to the nation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that military operations against the Islamic Republic of Iran are not yet over.
Meanwhile, Qatar announced that from the 12th it will allow all types of vessels to operate between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. This signaled that it had reached an understanding with the Islamic Republic of Iran that navigation in the section of the Strait of Hormuz near Qatar would not be disrupted.

dympna@fnnews.com Song Kyung-jae Reporter