United States President, Donald Trump, has accused Iran of failing to properly manage maritime passage through the Strait of Hormuz, warning that the fragile two-week ceasefire between both sides is under strain.
In a post shared overnight on Truth Social, Trump said Iran was doing “a very poor job” of allowing vessels safe passage through the strategic waterway.
“That is not the agreement we have”, the president wrote on Truth Social overnight.
His remarks come ahead of planned ceasefire negotiations between the United States and Iran, scheduled to take place in Islamabad, Pakistan, over the weekend.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also held discussions with Trump, stressing the importance of establishing a “practical plan” to ensure uninterrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The talks followed Starmer’s recent meetings with Gulf allies and military officials.
According to Downing Street, “The Prime Minister set out his discussions with Gulf leaders and military planners in the region on the need to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as the UK’s efforts to convene partners to agree a viable plan,” Downing Street said on Friday.
Speaking to ITV News, Starmer emphasised the need for “toll-free navigation” under the ceasefire arrangement, amid reports that Iran may introduce a $1-per-barrel charge on oil shipments passing through the route.
Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Saeed Khatibzadeh, stated on Thursday that the waterway remains accessible but noted that vessels must coordinate with Iranian authorities before transiting.
“Anybody who communicates with the Iranian authority has got permission to pass,” Dr Saeed Khatibzadeh told ITV News International Editor Emma Murphy.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signalled a possible breakthrough in regional diplomacy, revealing that he had authorised direct talks with Lebanon, although officials in Beirut have yet to confirm the development.
The announcement followed Israeli airstrikes on Beirut on Wednesday, which reportedly left more than 300 people dead.
According to reports by the Associated Press, discussions between Israel and Lebanon are expected to begin on Wednesday.
On Thursday, Starmer criticised Israel’s continued military operations in Lebanon during the ceasefire period, describing them as unacceptable.
When asked whether the strikes violated the ceasefire, the prime minister said: “It’s hard to say that there is a breach when we haven’t all got access to all the details of the ceasefire.
“But let me be really clear about it. They’re wrong. That shouldn’t be happening. That should stop.”
Iran has maintained that the ceasefire includes hostilities involving its Lebanon-based ally, Hezbollah, while Israel insists the agreement does not extend to Lebanon.
Sources familiar with last-minute negotiations told ITV News that US officials believed Lebanon was covered under the ceasefire terms, a position that appears to conflict with statements from the White House indicating otherwise.
Trump and Iranian officials had earlier agreed to a two-week ceasefire framework, with negotiations expected to centre on a 10-point proposal put forward by Tehran. The US president previously described the plan as “a workable basis on which to negotiate.”
However, key disagreements persist, including Iran’s uranium enrichment programme and the continued presence of US military forces in the region.
The ongoing conflict, which began on February 28 following joint US and Israeli strikes on Iran that reportedly killed its supreme leader, has already resulted in thousands of deaths.
