Iran is considering a short-term pause to shipments through the Strait of Hormuz to avoid testing President Donald Trump's blockade, now entering its second day, according to a new report.
The possibility could be tied to a desire to avoid an escalation as reports claim mediators are working to bring both sides back to the negotiating table, Bloomberg noted.
It added that calculations could change and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Tehran's most belligerent faction, could seek to move through and show that the blockade can be challenger without consequences.
In the meantime, several other factors are coming into play. Another report detailed that Saudi Arabia is pressing the Trump administration to drop the blockade, fearing it could lead to the disruption of other shipping routes.
Concretely, officials said Tehran could retaliate to the move by closing Bab al-Mandeb, a key waterway in the Red Sea through which much of the country's remaining exports transit.
The outlet went on to detail that the country has been able to restore exports to pre-war levels by routing them through its pipeline to the Red Sea. However, Iran and its allies have threatened to block the region too if the war escalates.
Diplomatic efforts are also continuing. A Pakistani officer told CBS News that Islamabad is intensifying efforts to host a second round of talks before the ceasefire ends next week. Authorities, the report claimed, are cautiously optimistic about the direction of negotiations despite the lack of an agreement during the weekend.
The official told the outlet that they are in active contact with both countries urging them to resume dialogue as soon as possible and is waiting for response from them.
In the first round, the Trump administration proposed a 20-year moratorium on uranium enrichment to Iran to move towards a ceasefire, according to another report.
Axios detailed that Tehran signaled openness to the idea but for a shorter, "single digit" period. Despite the stalemate, Trump said Iranian leaders called him on Monday and they "would like to work a deal."
Speaking to press at the White House, Trump said he got a call from "the right people" in the country about resuming talks, but emphasized on the need to get a commitment from Tehran about not pursuing a nuclear weapon.
