Trump: Deal with Tehran Today – Diplomatic Thriller in Pakistan
An Iranian official hinted Tehran may consider peace talks with the US amid rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, while Pakistan urges easing sanctions to include Iran in negotiations.
At the same time, a senior Iranian official hinted that Tehran views positively the prospect of sitting at the peace talks table with the United States, although a final decision has not yet been made.
Pakistan, acting as a mediator, is pushing for an end to the American blockade and to secure Iran’s participation in the talks.
According to a source involved in the negotiations, the two-week ceasefire expires on April 22 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Tense Situation in the Strait of Hormuz
On Monday, ships largely avoided passing through the Strait of Hormuz. This came after the weekend escalation, when Iran fired warning shots at vessels and the U.S. military seized an Iranian cargo ship.
Tracking data showed that within 12 hours only one ship exited the Gulf via the strait, while only two entered — a significantly low number compared to the average of 130 ships per day.
Among them was the tanker Nero, which is under British sanctions due to activities related to Russia. Also heading to the Gulf were the chemical tanker Starway and the Axon I, a liquefied gas tanker subject to U.S. sanctions for previous transactions with Iran.
Tehran conveyed that it will respond to Washington’s measures following the seizure of its ship and made clear that it does not intend to participate in new peace talks under the current conditions.
Insurance Premiums Rising Again
Immediately after Friday’s announcement that the passage remained open, charterers began preparing tankers for departure. This led to a sharp drop in oil prices and a loosening of war risk insurance premiums.
However, the mood quickly reversed. Sources from the shipping and insurance sectors report that war risk premiums have risen again to 3% of the vessel’s value, up from 2% previously.
Shipping broker Clarksons noted that recent weeks have seen several false starts and that while some form of agreement remains possible, the timeline for steady progress is still very uncertain.
On Saturday, Iran fired upon ships, including a container ship of CMA CGM. The French company confirmed the incident, describing the shots as “warning fire” and clarifying that the crew is safe.
Turnaround on Sanctions for Russian Oil
In the same context, the Trump administration renewed on Friday the waiver on sanctions for Russian oil in transit. The decision allows purchases to resume for about a month and is interpreted as an effort to limit disruption in international oil prices.
