US President Trump has extended the ultimatum to Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz until April 6th. However, oil prices remained high - over $100 per barrel.
US President Donald Trump has again postponed the ultimatum he gave Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz. There will be no attacks on Iranian power plants until April 6th, Trump announced on his Truth Social platform.
The deadline given by Trump in principle expired on Saturday. Iran asked for a seven-day extension, and as the US president said in an interview with Fox News: "I'll give you ten".
Tehran denies negotiating
Trump justified his step by saying that Iran had allowed numerous oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. For him, this is a sign of goodwill for negotiations. "I think we're dealing with the right people."
Trump also referred to the "very good" talks - as he already did on Monday, when his deadline was extended by another five days.
So far, there is no official position from Tehran - the regime denies negotiating with the US. "Wall Street Journal" writes, citing intermediaries, that Iran did not ask for a ten-day postponement of the attacks on its power plants.
The threats are mutual
Initially, Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum, which expired on Tuesday, ARD recalls. The main requirement was to open the Strait of Hormuz, which is important for the world economy, completely and without threats. Otherwise, the American president threatened to destroy Iranian energy facilities.
Iran threatened to retaliate: the military announced that they would in turn target all American energy facilities, as well as information technology in the region. In addition, Iran threatened to completely close the Strait of Hormuz. Currently, the regime allows "non-hostile" ships to pass after coordination with the authorities.
Iran attacks ships
However, only a small number of ships pass through the strait, and Iran, as experts say, has apparently developed a kind of toll system through which it demands fees for the passage of ships.
After the attacks by the US and Israel, Iran has repeatedly called for ships not to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the German public media also notes. Ships have repeatedly been attacked - with serious repercussions, especially on the global trade in gas, oil and fertilizers.
The strait is the only connection between the Persian Gulf and the world's oceans and is considered one of the most important routes on a global scale. One fifth of the world's oil needs are transported from there, writes ARD.
The German public media also notes that despite the extension of the American ultimatum to Iran, oil prices remained high - over $100 per barrel.