White House Says Iran Still Pursues Talks as US Enforces Hormuz Blockade
Washington asserts Tehran is continuing negotiations and desires an agreement, even as American forces maintain a naval quarantine and launch new strikes over alleged Iranian violations of a recent memorandum.
The White House stated on Thursday that Iran remains engaged in talks with the United States and is seeking to conclude a deal, while simultaneously confirming that a maritime blockade of Iranian-linked shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is being enforced. Spokesperson Caroline Leavitt told reporters that the Iranian government had violated a memorandum of understanding that committed it to refrain from attacking commercial vessels in the waterway, triggering the current US military response. According to the White House, the strait remains open to ships not bound for or departing from Iranian ports, but any vessel carrying Iranian cargo or serving Iranian destinations is subject to interception.
Viewed from Washington, the Iranian position is described as fragmented, with some elements of the leadership more inclined to reach an agreement than others. Leavitt said the US operation was having an effect and would continue, noting that over 10,000 American naval, marine and air force personnel, two aircraft carrier groups, more than 20 warships and dozens of aircraft were assigned to the blockade mission. US Central Command reported that in the first 23 hours of the operation, it diverted two compliant merchant ships and disabled one vessel that refused to follow instructions. The White House linked the renewed strikes—now in their fifth consecutive night—to what it called Tehran’s failure to honour its commitments, and emphasised that President Trump would not permit attacks on shipping to go unanswered.
Tehran has publicly rejected the notion that it is pursuing negotiations at this stage. Foreign ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei stated that Iran currently has no plans for talks and is focused on defence, adding that the memorandum of understanding entailed mutual obligations and that Iran would withhold compliance if the other side violated its terms. Iranian state media reported explosions in multiple locations following the latest wave of US strikes, while officials maintained that the American narrative of Iranian violations was a pretext for continued military pressure.
The immediate consequence is a partial disruption of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, with the US enforcing a quarantine on Iran-linked shipping while keeping the passage open for other vessels. The White House moved to reassure energy markets, noting that oil prices remained around $80 per barrel and that gasoline costs had fallen 60 cents from their crisis peak. It attributed this stability to the release of crude from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Jones Act waivers, environmental fuel exemptions, and the invocation of the Defense Production Act to restart production in California. Leavitt framed the entire operation as a measure to prevent what she called a state sponsor of terrorism from acquiring nuclear weapons.
The dossier remains in a state of active military enforcement and diplomatic deadlock. The US insists that the door to a deal remains open but that military operations will persist until Iranian compliance is restored. Iran, for its part, conditions any return to the memorandum on reciprocal American adherence. No new talks have been announced, and the US Central Command indicated that strikes aimed at degrading Iranian military capabilities would continue.
| Iranian & allied press | −0.70 | critical |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic / Anglosphere press | −0.50 | critical |
| Arab Levant-Maghreb press | 0.00 | neutral |
Iran unmasks White House lies: it is Washington that violates agreements and strikes first, while Tehran remains open to dialogue.
The accusation is reversed: instead of admitting its own violations, the US accuses Iran of wanting to negotiate only out of weakness, but Iranian rhetoric flips the narrative by presenting itself as the injured party.
It omits the fact that Iran actually attacked ships in the Gulf, as reported by Western sources, and that US sanctions and military operations are a response to those actions.
The US denounces Iran as a violator of agreements and justifies its military actions as necessary defense, while downplaying Iran's willingness to negotiate as a tactical move.
A hierarchy of threats is built: Iran is the primary source of instability, so every US action is presented as a proportional response, and Iran's request for dialogue is framed as a sign of weakness.
It omits the context of sanctions and economic pressures that preceded Iranian actions, as well as statements from Iranian officials indicating willingness to negotiate without preconditions.
The White House clarifies that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, denying rumors of a general blockade and limiting the impact of the crisis.
An official statement is used to downplay the scope of the crisis, presenting facts dryly and without judgment, which neutralizes alarmist narratives.
It omits any reference to violations of agreements or ongoing attacks, focusing solely on the situation of the strait.
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