Round II Of Talks On Anvil As Hormuz Takes Centrestage In US-Iran Conflict

By The Slate Bureau

Washington: The United States and Iran have shifted focus to contol over the Strait of Hormuz even as both sides agreed to go for a second round of talks which could restore peace in the West Asian region.

"Iran’s Navy is laying at the bottom of the sea, completely obliterated - 158 ships. What we have not hit are their small number of, what they , “fast attcallack ships” because we did not consider them much of a threat.," US President Donald J Trump posted on the social media. 

Iran, on the other hand, threatened to strike targets across the region after Trump wrote on social media that any Iranian warships nearing the blockade would be destroyed in a “quick and brutal” strike.

Trump stressed small ships which had been spared could be eliminated with ease. "If any of these ships come anywhere close to our BLOCKADE, they will be immediately ELIMINATED, using the same system of kill that we use against the drug dealers on boats at Sea. It is quick and brutal," Trump said. 

While the standoff continues, both sides have indicated possibility of a second round of peace talks this week.

With perception playing a key role in the conflict, Trump attacked a mediahouse for its report indicating Iran was holding forte as fake news. "For those people that still read The Failing New York Times and, despite the fact that Iran has been totally OBLITERATED, Militarily, and otherwise, you would think that Iran is actually winning or, at the very least, doing quite well — But that’s not true, and The New York Times knows that it’s FAKE NEWS!," he said.

Soon after US-Iran peace talks failed with Tehran refusing to call off its nuclear programme, President Donald Trump had threatened to “finish up the little that is left of Iran” and block entry and exit of any ship in the Strait of Hormuz.

“We are fully “LOCKED AND LOADED,” and our Military will finish up the little that is left of Iran!,” Trump said, while stating that the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will immediately begin the process of “BLOCKADING” any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz.

In what should worry nations banking on Iran for crude oil requirements, Trump said he had instructed US Navy to “seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran”. No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas, he added.

Though the first round of talks had failed, both sides exuded confidence over possibility of another attempt at making peace. While US said the offer was open, the Iranians had reciprocated saying diplomacy never ends.

Trump reacted sharply after the talks failed. He played down resistence by Iran. “Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!,” Trump said.

“Iran knows, better than anyone, how to END this situation which has already devastated their Country. Their Navy is gone, their Air Force is gone, their Anti Aircraft and Radar are useless, Khomeini, and most of their “Leaders,” are dead, all because of their Nuclear ambition,” he said.