The US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance will be in Islamabad (Pakistan) where talks are scheduled with the Iranian counterpart. The truce expires on April 22 and Tehran has not yet confirmed whether there will be one or not. If on the one hand the Pasdaran close the Strait of Hormuz to navigation, on the other the US Navy continues the naval blockade of Iranian ports. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is ready to send two minesweepers to ensure passage through the Persian Gulf.
The boarding
“We have full control of the ship and are checking what’s on board!” The operation was announced on Truth social by US President Donald Trump himself. “An Iranian-flagged cargo ship called Touska, nearly 900 feet long and almost as heavy as an aircraft carrier, tried to get past our naval blockade, and it didn’t go well for them,” the tycoon writes. “The US Navy guided missile destroyer USS Spruance intercepted the Touska in the Gulf of Oman and gave them a clear warning to stop,” the president continues.
“The Iranian crew refused to listen, so our Navy ship stopped them in place by breaching the engine room,” Trump summarizes. It finally reports that “Touska is subject to US Treasury sanctions due to its prior history of illegal activity.”
The talks in Islamabad
Will Iran send its delegation to Islamabad? The doubts about the presence or absence of Tehran’s representatives gained more and more substance on April 19th. Trump’s threats to bomb Iranian bridges and power plants, which are essential for the population, were followed by incendiary statements from Iranian leaders. It is not clear whether they are tactical positions to gain time or to obtain something else before reaching the negotiations.
However, the signals arriving from the Middle East do not seem to converge towards an extension of the ceasefire. According to the Iranian state news agency IrnaTehran has rejected the possibility of a second round of peace talks. The reasons would be Washington’s “excessive demands, unrealistic expectations, constant changes in position, repeated contradictions and the ongoing naval blockade.” Also, for the website AxiosIran suspects that the negotiation is a trap for a surprise attack. Indeed, the war scenario would be more likely than the continuation of negotiations. Supports the Tasnim agency. And the boarding that occurred during the night would only have complicated the situation.
Meloni’s moves
While the Middle Eastern front is increasingly uncertain, the “willing” Europeans are ready to embark on a defensive mission to ensure the safe passage of the Strait of Hormuz. From the summit on 17 April at the Elysée, the heads of state and government agreed on the boundaries of the operation. It will only be triggered with a stable and lasting ceasefire, it will be under European aegis – perhaps with an expansion of Aspides – or NATO. The UN mandate is not considered an essential condition.
Italy will have an important role thanks to the skills of the Navy and the specificities of our fleet. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni anticipated to the other leaders that Rome will be able to make two minehunter units available. These ships, thanks to their fiberglass hull, are practically “invisible” to ordnance dispersed at sea.