Iran Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei on Monday noted that messages and proposals, transmitted by mediators, have been received regarding the potential reestablishment of discussions with the United States to reduce tensions in the Middle East.
While not providing specifics, Baghaei explained that the country’s diplomatic channels have remained active in recent days and dismissed the notion that Iran faces a binary choice between negotiation and conflict.
Following disclosure from the foreign ministry, oil prices pared earlier gains, with Brent futures exhibiting an increase of 0.05% to around $88.14 a barrel after breaking the $90 threshold in the morning. WTI dropped by 0.50% to $82.08 per barrel.
The statement came after U.S. forces launched strikes against Iran for a ninth consecutive day on Sunday, contributing to growing concerns for maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran reported that two oil tankers in the key waterway were damaged by explosions and rendered inoperable.
According to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iranian forces targeted U.S. military positions, including those at Jordan’s Aqaba airport, installations in Kuwait, and locations in Syria. Alarm sirens were activated in Bahrain, while Kuwait’s armed forces announced they had intercepted hostile drones during the Iranian operation.
These incidents underscore a broader escalation that began after the breakdown of a temporary ceasefire agreement signed a month earlier. The hostilities have further destabilized the strategically significant Strait of Hormuz, where disruptions to shipping threaten energy supplies and have raised concerns about global inflationary pressures.
