US president Donald Trump said in a social media post today that all US military ships, aircraft and personnel will remain in place in and around Iran until the "real agreement" is fully complied with.
If the agreement is not adhered to, "then the 'Shootin' Starts,' bigger, and better, and stronger than anyone has ever seen before," Trump said. "It was agreed, a long time ago, and despite all of the fake rhetoric to the contrary - NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS and, the Strait of Hormuz WILL BE OPEN & SAFE," he said.
The US and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire on 7 April, but the countries have offered conflicting accounts of key terms of the agreement. Trump's latest comments appear to reinforce the lack of clarity over what the terms of the ceasefire agreement are.
Iran's supreme national security council outlined a 10-point peace proposal, which included enshrining its control over the strait of Hormuz, lifting all sanctions on Iran, accepting its right to nuclear enrichment, withdrawing of all US forces from the region and ending Israel's incursion into Lebanon.
The US has a 15-point counter-proposal, with provisions directly contravening the Iranian position, including over its nuclear programme.
But Trump confirmed at least one point — Iran's control on navigation through the strait of Hormuz. "For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's armed forces and with due consideration of technical limitations," Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araqchi said on 7 April. Trump reposted the statement in full.
Little is known about the details of the negotiations and the identity of the negotiators from the two sides.
Energy infrastructure in Iran and the Mideast Gulf states have continued to come under attack even after the ceasefire was announced.
Meanwhile, vessel traffic through the strait of Hormuz has yet to rise, as shipowners await clarity on security arrangements and insurance cover for transits.
Trump ended off his most recent post by saying "In the meantime our great Military is Loading Up and Resting, looking forward, actually, to its next Conquest".
Crude futures rose today, with the Ice front-month June Brent contract at $96.63/bl as of 04:00 GMT, up by $1.88/bl from its settlement on 8 April. The Nymex front-month May crude contract was at $97.18/bl, higher by $2.77/bl from its settlement on 8 April.
