The United States and Iran are quietly edging back to the negotiating table, with President Donald Trump confirming that Tehran is now in “serious discussions” with Washington. The shift comes as American military power continues to build up across the Gulf, raising fears of a wider confrontation.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said he hopes the talks produce an outcome that both sides can accept, even as relations remain strained over Iran’s nuclear program and its bloody crackdown on anti-government protesters. Senior Iranian security official Ali Larijani echoed that sentiment, saying a negotiation framework is slowly taking shape.
The diplomatic movement is happening against a tense backdrop. Iran is preparing to launch a two-day live-fire naval drill in the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes. Roughly 20 percent of global oil trade moves through this narrow waterway. Any disruption would ripple across the global economy.
For years, Iran has warned that it could shut the strait if it is attacked. The US, now operating the USS Abraham Lincoln and other forces nearby, has made it clear it will respond to any “unsafe or unprofessional behavior” in the region.
Iran pushed back sharply, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accusing the US military of trying to dictate how Iran’s forces conduct exercises “on their own turf.”
Two explosions inside Iran on Saturday added another layer of anxiety. A blast in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas killed one person and injured 14, which officials blamed on a gas leak. In Ahvaz, at least four people died in a separate explosion. Again, authorities said a gas leak was responsible, pushing back on speculation of targeted attacks.
Meanwhile, the human toll of Iran’s political unrest continues to draw global alarm. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency says it has confirmed more than 6,300 deaths since protests erupted late last year, and is still investigating thousands more possible cases. Another watchdog, Iran Human Rights, warned the final death toll could exceed 25,000.
Trump said he delivered a clear message to Iran: avoid military action by meeting two conditions — abandon nuclear weapons ambitions and end lethal crackdowns on protesters.
While officials on both sides insist negotiations are progressing, the military posturing suggests neither is ready to ease pressure just yet. Whether these “serious discussions” lead to de-escalation or a deeper crisis will likely hinge on what happens next in the Strait of Hormuz.
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