Iranian authorities confirm they continue to control the Strait of Hormuz and state they are not attempting to resume negotiations with the United States after both sides ceased retaliatory attacks over the past weekend.
On Monday, 27 Jul 2026 GMT+7, Iranian officials reaffirmed their control over the Strait of Hormuz and denied efforts to restart peace talks with the U.S. following President Donald Trump's order to suspend airstrikes that had lasted two weeks.
Several Iranian state media outlets reported that on Monday morning, Iran ordered six "offending" vessels to turn back after they tried to transit the Strait of Hormuz without permission, noting one of these vessels experienced an “accident,” which Iran had previously warned could happen to violators.
After the U.S. conducted heavy bombings for 13 consecutive nights through Friday, 24 Jul 2026 GMT+7, and Iran retaliated by attacking U.S. military assets in the Middle East, Donald Trump ordered a halt to the strikes over the weekend. Iranian officials said they would also cease attacks as long as the U.S. did not resume them.
The cessation of attacks by both the U.S. and Iran caused oil prices to plunge amid hopes that disrupted global oil supplies could stabilize. Brent crude, which briefly exceeded $100 per barrel last week for the first time since May, dropped over 8% by Monday morning to just under $89 per barrel.
However, signs emerged on Monday that Tehran might be probing the new ceasefire, as Jordanian authorities reported shooting down two Iranian drones, while Iraqi security sources disclosed drone attacks on Iranian-backed Kurdish militia bases in northern Iraq.
The latest U.S. attacks aimed to punish Iran for striking commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz near Oman's coast, a route recommended by the U.S. for maritime traffic.
Iran, however, maintains that ships may only transit through channels close to its own coastline, an area under Iranian control where it intends to levy transit fees.
Trump's decision to halt the attacks followed military advice that the designated targets had been completely destroyed. Meanwhile, General Dan Kinn, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, expressed concern over a significant depletion of ammunition and air defense equipment.
On Sunday, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz revealed that Trump suspended the strikes to open the door for negotiations. Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and other U.S. officials claimed that Iran was "pleading for a deal."
However, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Bagaei stated in a televised press conference on Monday that Iran had not requested to resume peace talks with the U.S., despite continued message exchanges via intermediaries.
Bagaei emphasized that Iran has not abandoned diplomatic channels but said, “Reports that Iran requested negotiations with the U.S. are fabricated,” adding, “Such actions are not in our DNA.”
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Source:cna