U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that the United States and Iran have agreed to continue diplomatic talks despite recent military escalation, while declaring that the ceasefire reached between the two countries last month is no longer in effect.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Iran had requested that negotiations continue and that Washington had agreed. However, he stressed that the United States had made it clear the ceasefire had ended.
His remarks came after a week of renewed hostilities, including attacks on three commercial tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. The United States responded by striking Iranian military sites, while Iran launched retaliatory attacks against U.S. military facilities in neighboring Gulf states.
Despite the escalation, no new attacks were reported on Friday as regional mediators worked to revive diplomatic efforts and prevent the conflict from widening.
Iranian chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tehran is prepared for "full defense" if Washington violates last month's memorandum of understanding, adding that Iran will never surrender in war.
A source familiar with the discussions told Reuters that Qatari mediators met Iranian officials on Friday to ease tensions and discuss implementation of the U.S.-Iran agreement, including maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is also expected to visit Oman on Saturday for talks on bilateral relations and regional developments, particularly the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.
The recent escalation has disrupted shipping through the strategic waterway, a vital route for global oil exports. Oil prices eased on Friday but remained on track for weekly gains amid continued concerns over energy supplies and regional stability.
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