Trump casts doubt on ceasefire as Iran maintains chokehold on Strait of Hormuz
The Middle East ceasefire appeared shaky less than two days after it was announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, as Israel bombed more targets in Lebanon on Thursday and Iran showed little sign of relinquishing its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump himself appeared to cast doubt on the effectiveness of the ceasefire, writing on his social media platform: "Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz."
"That is not the agreement we have!" Trump wrote.
Iranian negotiators were expected to set off later on Thursday for Pakistan for the first peace talks of the war, where they are due to meet a delegation led by U.S. Vice-President JD Vance on Saturday.
Iran has flexed its control over the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial artery for oil, fertilizer and other resources, demanding tolls for safe passage. Tehran said there would be no ceasefire deal as long as Israel launched its fresh strikes in Lebanon.
In response to Iran charging tolls for passage through the strait — an idea Trump himself has mused about — he wrote on social media, "They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now!"
In a defiant statement, Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said on Thursday that Iran was not seeking war but will not forfeit its rights.
The statement attributed to Khamenei was read on Iranian state TV. He has not been seen in public since he took over from his father, who was killed on the first day of the war.
Khamenei's statement said Iran will seek retribution for attacks against it and "will take management of the Straits of Hormuz into a new phase." He also vowed to avenge the deaths of his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Iran's "martyrs."
