Iran says return to war unlikely, but Trump ‘not happy’ with deal

The US leader warned he may be forced to “get the job done” if a better arrangement is not agreed, even as oil prices tumbled on optimism over a peace deal to reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz trade route.

Fighting has been suspended since an April 8 ceasefire, talks to end the conflict and restore trade through the blocked waterway have stalled and the global economy has been shaken by the unrest.

But according to Tasnim News Agency, Mohammad Akbarzadeh, a senior official of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, said that the possibility of a renewed war was low “due to the weakness of the enemy” but warned that if an attack occurred, the military would be “full of ammunition and waiting.”

Meanwhile, Trump told a Cabinet meeting at the White House that he was in no rush to reach a deal, despite saying over the weekend that one was close.

“Iran is very willing, they very much want to make a deal. So far they haven’t done that. We’re not happy with that, but we will,” he said.

“It’s either that or we have to get this done.”

In late February, the Middle East war broke out, and the United States and Israel jointly attacked Iran, sweeping the region and sending oil prices soaring.

Hopes that a deal is imminent to avert further hostilities sent the benchmark oil contract down more than 5% on Wednesday, after signs of progress on both sides.

Adding to the optimism, reports on Iranian state television said Washington had committed in a draft framework to lifting its naval blockade on Iran, restoring traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and withdrawing troops from the Gulf.

The report cited an outline of a potential memorandum of understanding, but the White House quickly dismissed it as “a complete fabrication.”

A day earlier, Iran accused the United States of violating a ceasefire agreement and warned it was prepared to retaliate after the worst attack since the truce came into effect.

The U.S. military said it launched “self-defense attacks” on Iranian missile bases and mine-laying ships from Monday to Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Tehran’s intelligence ministry said the United States and Israel are still seeking to overthrow the Islamic Republic and divide Iran, accusing them of trying to foment division and carry out sabotage missions.

– “Will there be missiles?” –

Iran and the United States have been engaged in a war of words for weeks as they try to negotiate a deal under mediation efforts led by Pakistan.

Neither side appears ready to compromise on key issues, including the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear program.

On Wednesday, the Revolutionary Guard navy insisted that only ships “willing to comply with Iranian orders” could pass through the waterway.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that a peace deal was still possible but that the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened “somehow.”

In an effort to restore normalcy to Iranians, authorities on Tuesday partially restored access to the global internet after a three-month shutdown.

“I definitely feel better now because I can finally use my favorite app,” said Hana, a 20-year-old student in Tehran who gave only her first name.

“At the same time, I worry that the war could break out again at any time and cut me off from my friends again.”

Amir, a 27-year-old software developer in the Iranian capital, also said that despite talk of a deal, he was still worried about fighting breaking out again.

“I don’t think anything is certain yet…The question every day is, is there going to be a missile attack tonight?”

– Fighting expands in Lebanon –

On the Lebanese front of the war, Israel launched widespread strikes on Wednesday and declared a large swath of the country’s south a new war zone, urging its residents to leave.

The warning raises further questions about the fragile ceasefire that took effect on April 17 but has done little to stem fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah, which dragged Lebanon into the war when it attacked Israel in early March.

Iran demands that any peace deal apply to Lebanon.

An Israeli military spokesman warned Lebanese civilians to evacuate north of the Zahrani River, about 40 kilometers north of the Israeli-Lebanese border, “as all areas south of the river are considered a war zone”.

Hezbollah earlier said its militants had clashed with Israeli forces at “close range” in a strategically important town in southern Lebanon, which lies outside Israel’s declared “yellow line” where Hezbollah forces have been operating.

The Yellow Line mainly follows the Litani River about 30 kilometers south of the Zahrani River.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Monday to “crush” Hezbollah, and Israeli Army Chief of Staff Lt. Col. Eyal Zamir said on Wednesday that “we are intensifying our operations to carry out a harsher attack on the Hezbollah group.”

burs/smw/jfx

This article was generated from automated news agency feeds without modifications to the text.