The impasse comes after the expiration on Monday of a 60-day negotiating deadline that the US and Iran set under a now-defunct ceasefire agreement.
Iran will not reopen the strait of Hormuz until the US fulfils all commitments under that memorandum of understanding, including lifting a naval blockade against Iran and releasing frozen assets, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on 18 August. But US president Donald Trump said the blockade remains in force, and no further talks with Iran are scheduled.
"There are no talks or conversations going on, or scheduled, with the Islamic Republic of Iran," Trump said in a social media post on Tuesday.
Vessel traffic through the strait of Hormuz over the past 24 hours remained at a trickle of pre-war levels as the US-Iran standoff over the narrow waterway deepened.
Transits through the strait of Hormuz on 17 August totalled 13 vessels, split between eight inbound transits, and five outbound transits, data from maritime security firm Windward shows. Three of the inbound transits and four of the outbound transits were on the southern traffic lane supported by the US.
Meanwhile, an unnamed cargo vessel has been struck by multiple unknown projectiles and destroyed near the Yemeni port of Al Mukha, UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Tuesday.
The unmanned cargo vessel was located 40 nautical miles southeast of Al Mukha in the Red Sea when the attack caused a total loss of the ship, according to UKMTO. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Authorities are investigating the incident, and vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity, UKMTO said.
Ice Brent futures rose in early Asian trading as the US-Iran standoff over the strait of Hormuz intensified.
The Ice front-month October Brent contract was at $91.62/bl at 04:00 GMT, up by 60¢/bl from its settlement on 18 August, when it ended 15¢/bl higher.
The Nymex front-month September crude contract was at $85.57/bl, higher by 63¢/bl from its settlement on 18 August, when it ended 44¢/bl higher.
The US and Iran are reporting scant progress in negotiations to fully reopen the strait of Hormuz and resolve a war that began nearly six months ago.
The impasse comes after the expiration on Monday of a 60-day negotiating deadline that the US and Iran set under a now-defunct ceasefire agreement.
Iran will not reopen the strait of Hormuz until the US fulfils all commitments under that memorandum of understanding, including lifting a naval blockade against Iran and releasing frozen assets, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on 18 August. But US president Donald Trump said the blockade remains in force, and no further talks with Iran are scheduled.
"There are no talks or conversations going on, or scheduled, with the Islamic Republic of Iran," Trump said in a social media post on Tuesday.
Vessel traffic through the strait of Hormuz over the past 24 hours remained at a trickle of pre-war levels as the US-Iran standoff over the narrow waterway deepened.
Transits through the strait of Hormuz on 17 August totalled 13 vessels, split between eight inbound transits, and five outbound transits, data from maritime security firm Windward shows. Three of the inbound transits and four of the outbound transits were on the southern traffic lane supported by the US.
Meanwhile, an unnamed cargo vessel has been struck by multiple unknown projectiles and destroyed near the Yemeni port of Al Mukha, UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Tuesday.
The unmanned cargo vessel was located 40 nautical miles southeast of Al Mukha in the Red Sea when the attack caused a total loss of the ship, according to UKMTO. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Authorities are investigating the incident, and vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity, UKMTO said.
By Rhalain Reyes