TEHRAN (Realist English). On July 10, a senior US administration official stated that technical negotiations with Iran are continuing, despite the escalation of armed confrontation in the Strait of Hormuz.
“The United States remains committed to finding a solution with Iran, and the technical talks are ongoing,” Reuters quoted the official as saying.
The statement came amid two days of mutual strikes that have jeopardised the fragile ceasefire brokered on June 17.
President Donald Trump had declared on the eve of the NATO summit in Ankara that he considered the ceasefire “over,” but US officials made it clear that the diplomatic channel with Tehran remains open.
“President Trump made his position clear,” the official said, “but that does not mean the cessation of technical contacts.”
Talks Amid Strikes
The decision to continue technical consultations despite military escalation appears to be Washington’s attempt to preserve a diplomatic exit from the crisis. As the Washington Examiner notes, the US is conducting “technical negotiations” with the Iranian regime, and an administration official stressed: “Iran will never be able to possess nuclear weapons.”
At the same time, US forces remain fully prepared to resume strikes. “The military maintains a list of potential targets in Iran, even though operations have been temporarily paused to facilitate diplomatic efforts,” Vietnam.vn reports, citing Pentagon sources. According to officials, US forces are ready to resume attacks “the same night” on presidential orders.
As The Irish Times notes, the US official’s comments “will likely ease fears of a return to full‑scale war.” However, the fragility of the situation remains: “the sides have refrained from returning to full‑scale war, and some provisions of their temporary agreement — which has not yet been officially terminated — are still being observed,” CNBC TV18 reports.
Escalation in the Strait and Trump’s Ultimatum
The escalation began with attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on July 6–7. Iranian forces struck US facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Jordan. In response, US forces carried out two waves of airstrikes, hitting at least 170 Iranian military targets.
On July 8, Trump stated at the NATO summit: “As far as I’m concerned, this [ceasefire] is over. I don’t want to deal with them anymore.” However, the following day, on his return from Ankara, he said Tehran had reached out with a request for negotiations: “They called a while ago. They want to make a deal so badly.” At the same time, he expressed doubt about the wisdom of dialogue: “I just don’t know if they deserve this deal. I don’t know if they will abide by it.”
The Role of Regional Mediators
Amid the escalation, regional mediators have stepped up their efforts. According to Axios, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia are working behind the scenes to reduce tensions and restore the June 17 memorandum.
Earlier, on July 1, a round of indirect technical talks was held in Doha with the participation of Qatari and Pakistani mediators.
Impact on Shipping and Markets
The escalation has brought shipping through the Strait of Hormuz to a near standstill. According to CNBC TV18, “observed shipping through Hormuz has slowed significantly due to the fighting.” Oil prices, despite the escalation, have stabilised: Brent is trading around $76 per barrel, WTI below $72.
Thus, amid the most serious military escalation since the signing of the memorandum on June 17, Washington and Tehran are maintaining technical diplomatic channels, though prospects for a peaceful settlement remain uncertain.
Trump’s declaration that the ceasefire is “over” and the ongoing mutual strikes call into question the very peace process that began less than a month ago.
