Day 128 | "Iranians are begging to make a deal," Trump tells Axios
Latest developments:
- Trump told Axios he is closely following the funeral of Iran's former Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, who was assassinated on the first day of the war in a joint US-'Israeli' operation.
- Trump claimed the Iranians are "begging to make a deal" and said both sides agreed to pause negotiations for one week until the funeral events conclude.
- According to Trump, neither side will carry out attacks during the pause. He added, "They are all there. One shot [and we can take them all out], but we are not going to do that because then we would have nobody to negotiate with."
- Trump also said he was surprised to see mourners crying at Khamenei's funeral, saying he believed many Iranians disliked him, before adding, "Maybe it's fake tears."
- More than 10 million people, including delegations from over 100 countries, are expected in Tehran for Khamenei's funeral, according to Iranian officials.
- Meanwhile, 'Israel' has carried out additional strikes in southern Lebanon, saying it targeted Hezbollah infrastructure and fighters despite last month's framework agreement with Lebanon aimed at ending the conflict.
'Israeli' attacks on southern Lebanon continue despite ceasefire framework
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reports 'Israeli' strikes hit the towns of al-Mansouri and Tallousah in recent hours, despite a US-backed framework agreement aimed at reinforcing the fragile ceasefire between 'Israel' and Hezbollah.
Iran envoy says friendly nations to get ‘special’ Hormuz fee treatment
Iran’s ambassador to China insists that new fees will be charged to ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, an idea rejected by Washington, while assuring that “friendly” nations would receive special treatment.
The initial deal struck between Iran and the United States to end their war stipulated that commercial ships would transit the strait free of charge for 60 days, but it remains unclear what will be in place after that period.
Iranian Ambassador Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli tells the World Peace Forum in Beijing that his country is working in “collaboration and cooperation” with Oman on “new arrangements” for the vital waterway.
“As a country where the Hormuz is part of its territorial waters, we will definitely charge service fees,” Azli says in translated remarks, while insisting such fees would not be a “toll.”
“These new arrangements will be concerning guaranteeing the security of passage through the Straits of Hormuz, supervision of the passage of the vessels… and also guaranteeing and dealing with the environmental consequences of the massive number of ships,” he says.
“We will definitely consider special treatment for the countries that were friendly to us and specially stood by us during the hard times,” he adds.
The strait normally carries one-fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas, but it was all but closed by Iran during its war with the US and 'Israel', sending energy prices soaring.
Iran lifted its blockade of the Hormuz after it struck an initial deal with the US to end the war, and negotiations on a permanent settlement of the conflict are ongoing.
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Read more: Day 127 | Iran begins weeklong funeral for late Supreme Leader
