Trump Threatens Uranium Seizure As US-Iran Peace Talks Stall, Oil Prices Surge

Efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz remained stalled on Saturday as the United States and Iran continued to clash over security and nuclear issues, deepening concerns over global oil supply disruptions and rising energy prices. Iranian officials said navigation through the strategic waterway would return to normal only after the ongoing conflict involving the US and Israel comes to an end. However, despite renewed diplomatic messaging from both sides, there has been little visible progress toward easing tensions or restoring stable shipping operations in the region.

US President Donald Trump returned from a two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where both leaders reportedly agreed that the Strait of Hormuz should remain open for global shipping. The talks, however, failed to produce any concrete breakthrough on resolving the crisis. Iran has maintained that it intends to preserve a level of control over maritime activity in the Persian Gulf even after hostilities subside, a position that continues to alarm global markets heavily dependent on oil exports from the region.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that normal navigation conditions would resume once regional insecurity is addressed, according to remarks carried by the semi-official Mehr news agency. He added that Tehran plans to establish “effective and professional monitoring and control mechanisms” in the strait within the framework of international law. While Iran reiterated its support for a diplomatic solution, its continued pressure on shipping routes has sharply reduced oil exports from the Gulf, contributing to one of the most severe energy supply disruptions in recent years.

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China also publicly called for the immediate reopening of the strait, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi stating that shipping movement should resume as quickly as possible. The remarks came as Washington intensified sanctions targeting Chinese companies accused of purchasing Iranian crude oil. Trump said he discussed the issue directly with Xi during the summit and indicated that the US administration may soon decide whether to ease restrictions on some Chinese oil firms. Beijing, meanwhile, has reportedly instructed its companies to ignore US sanctions tied to Iranian oil imports.

The crisis has placed the White House under mounting pressure as energy prices continue to rise ahead of the upcoming US midterm elections. Brent crude prices have surged nearly 50 percent since the beginning of the conflict, driven by fears of a wider regional escalation and prolonged supply shortages. Although a brief recovery in vessel movement was observed earlier this week, shipping companies have largely remained cautious due to security concerns in the Persian Gulf and uncertainty over future military developments.

Diplomatic efforts are also continuing through regional intermediaries, with Pakistan emerging as a key mediator between Washington and Tehran. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met Iranian officials in Tehran on Saturday to discuss bilateral ties and the possibility of restarting US-Iran peace negotiations. At the same time, both sides appear willing to postpone discussions over Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile, which remains a major obstacle to any lasting agreement. Trump said he would consider sending US forces to secure Iran’s uranium “at the right time,” though he also suggested earlier that such an operation may be more symbolic than strategic.

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