By Desmond Nleya
WASHINGTON — The United States has ruled out negotiations with Iran unless Tehran halts attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, as tensions between the two countries escalate following renewed US strikes on Iranian targets.
US Vice President JD Vance said on Thursday that Washington was keeping all options open, including further military pressure, while declining to provide a timeline for ending the conflict.
The US position comes as Iranian officials warn that Tehran’s response to American attacks will be “asymmetrical” and “multi-layered”. Iran’s first vice president said the US strikes had altered Tehran’s calculations as the conflict continues to widen across the region.
The humanitarian toll has also increased. Five people have now been reported killed in a US strike on a wedding party in the Iranian city of Sirik, according to reports.
Meanwhile, South Korea is reviewing practical measures to support freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, including possible military involvement.
A senior official at South Korea’s presidential Blue House rejected claims that Seoul had provided no assistance regarding efforts to keep the strategic waterway open, saying such claims were “not true”.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global shipping route through which a significant volume of the world’s oil and gas supplies passes. Any prolonged disruption could have wider consequences for international energy markets and shipping.
With Washington ruling out talks while attacks on commercial vessels continue, diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflict face a major setback.
Source: Aljazeera
