Iran’s parliamentary speaker has sharply accused the United States of breaching a tentative two-week ceasefire linked to the Strait of Hormuz, raising fears of renewed escalation in a conflict that has already disrupted global oil supplies.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, delivering his remarks via social media on Wednesday, pointed to a long history of broken promises from Washington. “The deep historical distrust we hold toward the United States stems from its repeated violations of all forms of commitments, a pattern that has regrettably been repeated once again,” he stated.
He identified three specific violations of Iran’s 10-point truce proposal: continued Israeli military actions in Lebanon, an incursion by a drone into Iranian airspace, and the outright rejection of Tehran’s right to enrich uranium.
In light of these issues, Ghalibaf argued that further bilateral talks or a prolonged ceasefire make little sense. “In such situation, a bilateral ceasefire or negotiations is unreasonable.”
The agreement came after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on 28 February, amid a war that has slashed tanker traffic through the strait, a vital artery for about 20% of the world’s oil before hostilities erupted. This downturn has triggered the most severe crude supply disruption on record, with Brent crude prices climbing above $120 per barrel and threatening trillions in global trade.
U.S. President Donald Trump had described Iran’s proposal on Tuesday as a promising foundation for negotiations, tied to free passage for ships through the strait. However, the two sides sharply diverge on details.
The White House demands unrestricted access without tolls, while reports indicate Iran intends to charge fees for transit. Iranian state media adds that oil tankers remain stalled as Israeli operations in Lebanon persist.
Vice President JD Vance, addressing the claims while in Hungary, dismissed them as overblown. “Ceasefires are always messy,” he said regarding the drone allegation. Vance reiterated U.S. opposition to Iranian uranium enrichment and clarified that Lebanon was never part of the deal.
“If Iran wants to let this negotiation fall apart in a conflict where they were getting hammered over Lebanon, which has nothing to do with them and which the United States never once said was part of the ceasefire, that’s ultimately their choice.”
As diplomatic strains mount, analysts warn the fragile pact could unravel, prolonging economic pain worldwide.