U.S.-Iran Conflict: Tehran Questions U.S. Intentions as Trump Asserts Control Over Strait of Hormuz

Diplomatic efforts to resolve the U.S.-Iran conflict hit a stalemate this week as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that a 'lack of trust' is the primary obstacle to peace. Araghchi noted that while Tehran remains open to a 'fair and balanced deal,' contradictory messages from Washington have made Iran reluctant to engage. In a notable shift, Araghchi suggested that Iran would welcome diplomatic facilitation from China to bridge the gap between the two nations. On the military front, President Trump reiterated a hardline stance, declaring that the United States now maintains absolute control over the Strait of Hormuz. This rhetoric was bolstered by testimony from Admiral Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, who informed the Senate Armed Services Committee that 'Operation Epic Fury' has been highly effective. According to Cooper, U.S. strikes have eliminated more than 90% of Iran's inventory of 8,000 naval mines, though he cautioned that some maritime threats remain. Beyond the direct U.S.-Iran friction, regional spillover continues to impact third parties. Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed on Friday that 11 Pakistani nationals and 20 Iranian citizens were repatriated following their detention during U.S. maritime seizures in the Gulf of Oman last month. Meanwhile, the conflict continues to simmer via proxies, with Hezbollah maintaining daily drone strikes in southern Lebanon and Israel conducting high-profile retaliatory strikes in Beirut.