Iran has threatened to block the Bab al-Mandeb Strait-- a narrow waterway that controls sea traffic toward the Suez Canal-- if the United States and Israel escalate the war by attacking its islands, including Kharg. Tehran already has the Strait of Hormuz-- through which a fifth of the world's oil is normally shipped-- in a chokehold. Any disruption at Bab al-Mandeb could further the economic impact of the conflict in the Middle East.
Ships from Bangladesh and five other countries will not be targeted in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, Iran's Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi has said. The other five countries are India, China, Russia, Pakistan and Iraq.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said a 'ray of hope' is emerging for resolving the ongoing conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel. Although Iran remains in a position to continue fighting, China believes new opportunities for dialogue are taking shape.
US President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran is actually interested in reaching a deal, but is afraid to express that interest amid the ongoing war situation in the Middle East.
Iran has made it clear that no direct talks or dialogue are currently taking place between Iran and the United States. Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi confirmed that Tehran has had no direct communication with Washington since the devastating Israeli and US attacks on Iran last month. However, important messages have been exchanged between the two sides over the past few days through the mediation of various friendly countries.
Iran has rejected a 15-point ceasefire proposal from the United States, describing it as “extremely maximalist and unreasonable”, a senior diplomatic source confirmed to Al Jazeera on Wednesday. The rejection came as fighting continued across the region, with fresh drone strikes on Saudi Arabia and a residential area hit in southern Tehran.