Calm Returns to Strait of Hormuz as U.S. Awaits Iran Reply on Peace Proposal
Relative calm prevailed around the Strait of Hormuz early on Sunday after days of sporadic flare-ups, as the United States waited for Iran’s response to its latest proposals to end more than two months of fighting and begin peace talks.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday that Washington expected a response within hours. But there have been no signs of movement from Tehran on the proposal, which would formally end the war before talks on more contentious issues, including Iran’s nuclear program.
Rubio met Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al‑Thani in Miami on Saturday and discussed the need to continue working together “to deter threats and promote stability and security across the Middle East,” the State Department said in a statement.
Separately, a Qatari tanker of liquefied natural gas was sailing toward the strait on Saturday en route to Pakistan, according to LSEG shipping data, a move sources said was approved by Iran to build confidence with Qatar and Pakistan, both mediators in the war.
If completed, it would mark the first transit of a Qatari LNG vessel through the strait since the U.S. and “Israel” started the war on February 28.
