Trump: GCC prefers Iran blockade to continue

INTERNATIONAL BUREAU —US President Donald Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Monday that the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) "would prefer the status quo, in other words, a continuation of the Greatest Naval Blockade in History, and the new Operation Iron Gate - Therefore, Land and Sea". Nonetheless, the US head of state pointed out that Washington is "seeing positive momentum toward an end to this Conflict, and will ensure that America's interests are at all times protected," adding that once the war is over, the whole world will be "safer and more secure." He did add that if it is necessary to go back to fighting, the US is "locked and loaded." Trump shared that he had "an excellent conversation" with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, whom he hosted at the White House on Monday.

Meanwhile, Iran's top security official Mohsen Rezaei said there are currently no negotiations taking place between Tehran and Washington, in an interview with pro-Iran broadcaster Al-Mayadeen. Iran has insisted the US must meet seven conditions set out in a June interim agreement before the Strait of Hormuz can reopen and negotiations resume.

Rezaei said Iran had asked the US for a "clear and explicit" response to its conditions, but had yet to receive one, adding that Washington could respond in the future. Also in Paris, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that he told G7 allies the US economic sanctions and naval blockade are working so well that President Donald Trump does not need to conduct major combat operations against Iran.

Speaking to reporters in Paris after two days of meetings with G7 allies, Rubio repeatedly pushed back on the assertion that not returning to military action would amount to a stalemate or status quo. "The economic pain that is being inflicted on Iran right now is extraordinary, and it compounds. It's growing every day," Rubio said.

He added that Trump has also received input from regional allies in the Middle East confirming this assessment. "We don't need to conduct military strikes if we're achieving the same objective through economic means and economic pressure. That's not stalemate," Rubio said. "Never has Iran ever faced the inability to sell energy in the global market like they are today."