WASHINGTON: US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday said Iran still had an opportunity to strike a favourable deal with Washington, while revealing that US naval forces have already turned back 34 vessels from the Strait of Hormuz.
“We have all the time in the world. Iran has a historic chance to make a deal; the ball is in their court,” Pete Hegseth said, addressing a press conference.
“Iran knows that they still have an open window to choose wisely at the negotiating table,” he added.
He went on to say the US blockade on Iranian ports has gone global.
“We’re not counting on Europe, but they need the Strait of Hormuz more than we need it. This is much more their fight than ours,” said the Pentagon Chief.
Hegseth went on to say that Operation Epic Fury has delivered decisive military results in just weeks. He noted every ship that the US believes meets its criteria, either Iranian ships travelling to and from Iranian ports, has been turned around.
“As of this morning, 34 non-Iranian vessels were allowed to transit, and many have, including overnight,” he said.
“The president has threatened that if there are more reckless attempts by Iran to lay down mines, we’re going to deal with that as it’s a violation of the ceasefire,” he warned.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, in his remarks, said the US is enforcing the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz across the board. “The US will continue to conduct interdictions in the Pacific and Indian Oceans against Iranian vessels,” he said.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to arrive in Islamabad tonight along with a small delegation, according to Pakistan government sources.
Sources say that following key discussions with Pakistan’s mediation team, a second round of peace talks between the United States and Iran is likely to be held in Islamabad.
Meanwhile, the US logistical and security team is already present in Islamabad to facilitate the negotiation process, sources added.
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that a second round of talks between the United States and Iran could take place “as soon as Friday,” as Pakistan continued relentless diplomatic efforts to bring Washington and Tehran back to the negotiation table.
Speaking to The New York Post, Trump said “good news” regarding renewed negotiations may be coming as soon as Friday, adding that a follow-up round of talks was under consideration.
Pakistan took centre stage when it brokered a 14-day ceasefire between the US and Iran, followed by high-stakes talks in Islamabad attended by senior delegations from the two countries earlier this month.
The high-stakes talks concluded without a final agreement; however, it paved the way for further negotiations and diplomacy to resolve the US-Iran conflict.
The Pakistan-brokered ceasefire remained intact, with confidence-building measures being pursued to secure a permanent truce.
