Riyadh fears a domino effect on energy routes and is pushing Washington to return to dialogue. Meanwhile, Tehran rejects nuclear requests, while attempts at international mediation multiply
THE’Saudi Arabia intensifies the pressure on Washington to lift the naval blockade Strait of Hormuzconcerned that the escalation could extend to the point of compromising traffic in the Strait of Bab al-Mandebstrategic hub between Yemen And Djibouti and crucial route for Saudi oil exports to Red Sea. After the impasse in the Persian Gulf, Riyadh fears a chain effect capable of hitting the main global energy arteries. As reported by the Wall Street Journal, the Saudi kingdom urges the United States not only to reconsider the blockade, but also to reopen the negotiating channel with Tehran. The fear is that the hard line adopted by the president Donald Trump could push Iran to further raise the level of conflict, putting other strategic sea routes at risk.
The nuclear node
The central issue remains the Iranian nuclear program. During the talks in Islamabad, Tehran’s delegation put forward the proposal to suspend uranium enrichment for five years as a basis for an agreement. A proposal deemed insufficient by White House: Trump, through the vice president JD Vancehad called for a twenty-year moratorium on all nuclear activity. Iranian refusal helped scuttle the negotiations, the New York Times reported, citing sources involved in the talks. Other decisive issues also remain on the table: the restoration of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the cessation of Iranian support for groups such as Hamas And Hezbollah. However, it is precisely the renunciation of nuclear ambitions, together with the dismantling of atomic infrastructures and the transfer of fuel supplies abroad, representing the main point of friction between the parties. Despite the stalemate, some signs indicate room for a resumption of dialogue. The discussion on the duration of the nuclear suspension suggests possible negotiating opportunities. White House sources confirm that, although no new meeting has been scheduled, contacts are underway to organize a second round of direct talks. According to CNN and the Associated Press, Washington And Tehran they are discussing the details of a new face-to-face meeting. It is not yet clear whether the same delegations will participate, but it is among the possible locations Islamabad, while also Geneva is considered a concrete alternative. The hypothesis is that a new round of negotiations could take place in the next few days.
China’s moves
Meanwhile, also the China tries to insert itself into the Middle Eastern dossier. The president Xi Jinping presented a four-point proposal to the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi in Beijing, Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The plan focuses on peaceful coexistence, respect for national sovereignty, adherence to international law and coordination between development and security as pillars for stabilizing the region. At the same time, Pakistan said it was willing to host a new round of negotiations before the ceasefire expired, confirming its role as mediator. On the ground, meanwhile, the situation remains fluid also on an operational level. The oil tanker “Rich Starry”, owned by China and flying the flag of Malawi, has resumed sailing through the Strait of Hormuz after initially reversing course following the announcement of the US blockade. Tracking data indicates that the vessel, headed to Chinais crossing the area with a full load, a sign of a cautious resumption of traffic despite the tensions. Further complicating the picture is the position of Hezbollah, which has rejected any hypothesis of an agreement between Lebanon And Israel. A top exponent of the group, Wafiq Safastated that the organization will not consider itself bound by any agreements between Beirut And Jerusalem. The US diplomatic initiative on the Lebanese front also fits into this context. The Secretary of State Marco Rubio will participate in Washington at a meeting between the ambassadors of Israel And Lebanon, the first direct face-to-face in decades. At the center of the confrontation, according to rumors, there will be hypotheses of a ceasefire, disarmament of Hezbollah and a possible peace agreement between the two countries. The overall picture therefore remains extremely unstable and full of risks: between regional pressures, stalemate on nuclear power and attempts at international mediation, the risk is that the crisis in Strait of Hormuz turns into a broader conflict, with direct repercussions on energy balances and global security.
