Trump is "flirting" Iran. The advisor of the Supreme Leader threatens to sink the US ships
U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Iran had agreed to hand over its stockpile of enriched uranium and that the chances of a settlement were "very high" and said the two sides were getting closer to a final deal.
Trump explained in statements to reporters that what he described as "nuclear dust" in reference to enriched uranium will be returned to the United States, considering that this step is an essential part of the US conditions for reaching an agreement with Tehran, and represents an important shift in the Iranian position, although no official confirmation has been issued from Tehran yet.
He said he was considering the possibility of personally going to Pakistan to sign the agreement, as Islamabad continued to mediate between the two sides after a previous round of talks faltered.
In a related context, the US president stressed that the decision in the war with Iran is "very imminent", and described Iran as "a strong, intelligent country with strong fighters", although at the same time stressing that "the destruction of the Iranian fleet has become a reality on the ground".
Iran threatens to sink U.S. ships
In parallel, diplomatic and military moves continue in more than one direction, as Pakistani army chief Asim Munir is visiting Tehran, where he met with the speaker of Iran's parliament, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, as part of ongoing mediation efforts. Iran's ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeed Iravani, expressed "cautious optimism" that an "important outcome" could be reached in the negotiations.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stressed that the blockade of Iran's ports will continue "as long as necessary," warning that Iran's refusal to conclude a deal could lead to widespread strikes targeting infrastructure and energy. Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Cain said the blockade includes all ships heading to and from Iranian ports "regardless of nationality," with the threat of using force against any breach.
In contrast, Iran continues its countermeasures, maintaining the closure of the vital Strait of Hormuz, threatening to expand the scope of pressure through threats of a blockade of the Red Sea. Mohsen Rezaei, an adviser to the Iranian Supreme Leader, also warned against sinking US ships if they try to control navigation in the strait.
40 countries discuss the status of the Strait of Hormuz
France and Britain will chair an international meeting of about 40 countries on Friday, in a move aimed at sending a message to the United States that a number of its closest allies are ready to contribute to restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, as soon as conditions allow.
The meeting comes amid rising tensions in the region, with Iran largely closing the strait to non-Iranian vessels since the start of U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Feb. 28 and Washington on Monday imposed a blockade on ships entering or leaving Iranian ports, Reuters reported.
The current initiative does not include the United States or Iran, although European diplomats have stressed that any realistic mission would require coordination with the two sides, with Washington briefed on the results of the consultations.
According to a memorandum addressed to the invited countries, the meeting aims to reaffirm full diplomatic support for unrestricted freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, the need to respect international law, as well as discuss the economic challenges faced by the shipping sector and the safety of more than 20,000 stranded seafarers and blockaded commercial vessels.
The participants are discussing preparations to launch a multinational military defensive mission, when the appropriate conditions are met, to ensure the security of navigation in the strait, and a final statement is expected to be issued clarifying the features of this mission, without specifying the contributions of each country in detail.
An invitation to China
The meeting is being held in Paris in the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, in addition to the participation of officials from Europe, Asia and the Middle East via video conferencing, and an invitation was extended to China, but its participation has not yet been confirmed.
Diplomats have suggested that the mission may not be carried out if the situation in the strait returns to normal, while others have suggested that shipping and insurance companies are likely to demand the deployment of such a force during a transition to boost confidence.
A French official said the options on the table could include intelligence sharing, demining capabilities, military escorts, as well as coordination mechanisms with neighbouring countries, stressing that "the objective is clear, while the resources used will depend on developments in the situation."
Britain announced Friday's talks would pave the way for a multinational meeting on military planning next week.
US President Donald Trump has called on other countries to join the blockade, criticizing NATO countries for not engaging in these efforts. Britain, France and other countries believe that joining the blockade could mean direct entry into the war, but have expressed their willingness to help secure navigation in the strait after a permanent ceasefire is reached or the conflict ends.