Just when hopes of a breakthrough were growing, the US launched fresh strikes on Iran.
Raising a tense question: is the ceasefire holding, or quietly falling apart?
Washington says the attacks targeted Iranian missile sites and boats near Bandar Abbas.
They were allegedly trying to place mines in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil routes.
US Central Command called the operation an act of “self-defense,” insisting American forces were still acting with “restraint” during the fragile ceasefire.
But restraint is a relative word in the Gulf these days.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio tried to calm fears, saying negotiations with Tehran were still alive.
“We’ll see if we can make progress,” he told reporters, while warning that the Strait “has to be open one way or the other.”
Nuclear Talks Remain Stalled
Iran, meanwhile, struck a cautious tone. Foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai admitted progress had been made in talks, but stressed that a deal was “not imminent.”
At the heart of the dispute is Iran’s nuclear programme and control of Gulf shipping lanes.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a global pressure point — any disruption there can send oil prices soaring within hours.
And that’s what makes this moment so dangerous. Diplomats are still talking, warships are still moving, and everyone says they want peace.
The problem? In conflicts like this, peace often arrives carrying missiles.
