By Gloria Ogbonna
Iran has reportedly informed senior officials in the Trump administration that the recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz were not ordered by the Iranian government but were instead carried out by a rogue hardline faction acting independently in an apparent effort to sabotage ongoing diplomatic negotiations between Tehran and Washington.
The claim was first reported by CBS News senior White House reporter Jennifer Jacobs, who cited senior U.S. officials familiar with the private discussions. According to the report, Iranian representatives insisted behind closed doors that the attacks were not part of an official military strategy and should not be viewed as a deliberate action by the Iranian government.
Despite Tehran’s explanation, the White House is reportedly demanding that Iran publicly acknowledge responsibility for the incident. U.S. officials argue that regardless of who carried out the attacks, they constituted a violation of the ceasefire agreement that had been established to reduce tensions in the region.
Even with the latest setback, President Donald Trump has instructed his senior national security and diplomatic team to continue pursuing negotiations with Iran rather than abandon the diplomatic process. Those leading the effort include Vice President JD Vance, senior adviser Jared Kushner, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The next round of talks is expected to take place in Oman, a country that has frequently served as a neutral mediator between the United States and Iran during previous periods of heightened tensions. Officials hope the meetings will help restore confidence and prevent the crisis from escalating into a broader regional conflict.
At the same time, U.S. officials have reportedly delivered a firm warning to Tehran, making it clear that Washington is prepared to respond forcefully if additional attacks occur. According to officials, the Trump administration is ready to employ both military action and increased economic sanctions should Iran or any groups linked to it launch further hostile operations against U.S. interests or international shipping.
The renewed diplomatic push comes after several days of heightened military tensions. U.S. forces recently carried out strikes against Iranian military targets following President Trump’s announcement that the ceasefire had effectively ended. Those strikes raised fears that the conflict could spiral into a wider confrontation across the Middle East.
However, behind the scenes, both governments now appear to be working toward reviving the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which previously served as the framework for discussions aimed at reducing tensions and establishing conditions for future agreements.
According to Axios reporter Barak Ravid, Qatar has played a key role in reopening communication channels. In coordination with Washington, Qatari officials reportedly traveled to Tehran to meet directly with Iranian leaders in an effort to calm the situation and lay the groundwork for renewed negotiations.
A diplomat familiar with the talks said discussions between Qatari and Iranian officials remain ongoing and described the meetings as constructive. While no formal agreement has yet been announced, the diplomat indicated there is growing optimism that both the United States and Iran are interested in returning to the framework established under the Memorandum of Understanding.
“Qatari negotiators have travelled to Iran, in coordination with the U.S., to meet with Iranian officials in an effort to de-escalate the situation and create the conditions for negotiations to resume,” the diplomat said, adding that while meetings in Tehran are still underway, “it’s clear both sides want to come back to the MOU.”
The developments suggest that, despite recent military exchanges and continued mistrust, diplomatic channels remain open. Whether the talks in Oman and Qatar’s mediation efforts can produce a lasting breakthrough will likely determine whether tensions in the Strait of Hormuz continue to ease or once again escalate into a broader regional crisis.
Source Breitbart
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