New shipping attacks as Iran war talks hit fresh impasse
Fresh attacks on shipping reported as Iran war talks stall; Tehran insists Strait of Hormuz remains closed without US concessions.
The United States and Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis have reported separate attacks on shipping, as prospects for ending the five-month-old Iran war appeared to dim. Tehran reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed unless Washington accepts its conditions.
The new incidents come amid a deepening stalemate in negotiations, with both sides holding firm on their respective positions. The Houthi attacks, which have targeted vessels in the Red Sea and surrounding waters, have disrupted commercial shipping routes and drawn international condemnation.
The US military has responded with strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen, but the group has continued its campaign. Meanwhile, Iran's stance on the Strait of Hormuz — a critical chokepoint for global oil supplies — has raised concerns about potential supply disruptions and broader regional escalation.
Diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict have so far failed to produce a breakthrough, with Tehran insisting on conditions that Washington has so far rejected. The impasse leaves the region on edge, with the risk of further attacks on shipping and a wider conflagration looming.