Ship Hit Near Oman As Iran Sets Terms For Negotiations

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) announced that an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) boat approached a container ship 28 kilometers off the coast of northeast Oman “without warning” and opened “fire.”

The organization reported that the container ship sustained “severe damage” to part of its structure.

News agencies close to the IRGC, including Fars News Agency, wrote in this regard that the ship had “ignored” warnings from the Islamic Republic’s armed forces.

Previously, U.S. President Donald Trump extended the ceasefire until Iran presents a proposal, but stated that the naval blockade of Iran will continue.

Simultaneously, Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations announced that Tehran is prepared to negotiate with the United States, provided that the blockade of Iranian ports by the U.S. Navy is ended.

Amir Saeed Iravani said that Iran has received “signs” that the U.S. is prepared to end this blockade, an action he described as a “violation of the ceasefire.”

The Iranian Ambassador added, “As soon as they stop the blockade, I think the next round of negotiations will be held in Islamabad.”

Iran and the United States held a round of negotiations last week in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, but those talks concluded without a result.

Following the failure of those negotiations, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a naval blockade of Iranian ports, which has been in effect since April 11.