WASHINGTON, D.C. July 16, 2026 – The White House said Thursday that Iran continues to express interest in reaching a deal with the United States because it is suffering significant setbacks from U.S. military operations. At the same time, officials accused Tehran of violating a key memorandum of understanding by firing on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
“Iran very much continues to talk to the United States of America and express that they want to make a deal with us because they are suffering devastating blows on behalf of our United States military,” the Press Secretary said during a briefing.
The comments come amid strained U.S.-Iran relations following a June 2026 interim agreement (a 14-point memorandum of understanding) intended to end fighting, reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping, and set the stage for further talks, including on Iran’s nuclear program. The vital waterway carries a large share of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
Recent weeks have seen renewed incidents involving commercial vessels in the strait, prompting the U.S. to reimpose a blockade on ships entering or leaving Iranian ports specifically. U.S. officials maintain that the strait itself remains open for other traffic, with the Navy ensuring safe passage.
U.S. officials have demanded that Iran publicly confirm the strait is fully open and that attacks on shipping will stop, viewing recent incidents as violations that undermine the agreement. Reports indicate some Iranian officials have privately described certain attacks as missteps by hardline factions and have signaled willingness to continue negotiations.
President Trump has stated that while talks can continue if Iran requests them, the previous ceasefire is over, and the U.S. will respond firmly to any threats to commercial shipping. Oil price impacts have so far been limited, according to the White House, partly due to increased U.S. domestic energy production.
The situation remains fluid, with diplomatic channels active even as military posturing and shipping restrictions continue in the region.
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