ople travel by boat past a ship anchored in the Gulf of Aden, near the Yemeni coast of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, last Thursday. Shipping traffic along this route has declined due to threats from the Houthis. Photo: AFP
Trump acknowledges a depletion in US military weapons stockpiles.
Tehran’s parliament begins discussing a draft bill regarding control of the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran is receiving positive signals from the US regarding an end to the conflict. Amid reports of a shortage in US interceptor or defensive missiles, questions have arisen concerning the current state of negotiations with Iran. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that they are receiving messages from the US. He did not disclose the nature or source of these messages but hinted that they are positive.
Gharibabadi said, “From the Iranian perspective, for talks with the US to proceed, the issue of bilateral discussions with Oman must first be resolved. An agreement needs to be reached there, and new boundaries established in the Strait of Hormuz.”
However, US President Donald Trump has made positive remarks regarding ending the conflict. He stated, “The war will end soon. An agreement regarding the Strait of Hormuz is imminent.”
Trump expressed his belief that the ongoing conflict with Iran would conclude shortly. At the same time, he acknowledged that the US military is facing issues regarding the stockpiles of certain weapons.
The US President made these remarks while speaking to journalists in the Oval Office last Thursday. Addressing the Iran conflict, Trump said, “I think it will end very soon. I don’t think they can hold out much longer.”
A Reuters report last Tuesday stated that during the five-month standoff with Iran, the US military had exhausted a significant portion of its stockpile of long-range missiles capable of high-precision strikes. When asked about US weapons stockpiles last Thursday, Trump replied, “The US has an unlimited supply of certain types of powerful weapons. However, the stockpiles of some other weapons are relatively low.”
Trump noted that US defense companies are establishing new production facilities, including plants for manufacturing Patriot and Tomahawk missiles. The Washington Post has reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced questioning from President Trump regarding the depletion of weapons stockpiles.
Uncertainty in the Strait of Hormuz
After a brief easing of tensions, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz has once again become highly uncertain. Fresh sounds of explosions have been heard near Iran’s Qeshm Island. State media reported that these explosions occurred as part of an operation targeting what the country describes as “hostile targets.”
This incident coincides with discussions in the Iranian parliament regarding a draft bill aimed at asserting greater control over the Strait of Hormuz. The proposed legislation seeks to ban the passage of naval vessels from hostile nations—such as the United States and Israel—and impose fines on those who violate the rule.
Ghalibaf, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament and a key figure in these deliberations, has once again commented on social media regarding the trust deficit between the United States and Iran. He accused Washington of vacillating between military threats and diplomatic overtures.
On the domestic front, Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence announced the arrest of 21 individuals in Kerman province, accusing them of working for the Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad.
These developments are unfolding against a backdrop where, despite a continuing US naval blockade affecting ports in southern Iran, the country and Oman are finalizing a draft interim agreement to streamline the movement of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
