Washington, July 17 (IANS) The White House has accused Iran of violating a memorandum of understanding with the United States by attacking commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, saying President Donald Trump authorised renewed military strikes because Tehran had failed to honour its commitments despite continuing to express interest in negotiations.
Speaking at the White House daily briefing on Thursday, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Iran had breached a key provision of the agreement by firing on commercial vessels, prompting the administration to respond militarily.
“I’ve spoken with the President about this as recently as an hour ago. Iran very much continues to talk to the United States of America and express that they want to make a deal with us, because they are suffering devastating blows on behalf of our United States military,” Leavitt added.
She said the recent strikes were a direct response to Tehran’s actions.
“The reason for the recent strikes over the course of the last several days is because Iran violated the memorandum of understanding that we struck with them,” she added.
“Specifically in the memorandum of understanding that they signed, they were not to fire on commercial vessels moving through the Strait of Hormuz.”
According to Leavitt, Trump was determined not to allow attacks on international shipping to continue unchecked.
“President Trump is not going to sit by and allow these active acts of terrorism to take place in the strait without ensuring Iran pays consequences for that,” she said.
Despite the renewed military action, Leavitt added that diplomatic contacts had not ended.
“The President is always open and willing to diplomacy. He is the peace through strength President,” Leavitt said, adding that after Operation Epic Fury, “we did move forward into a diplomatic phase,” but Iran subsequently violated the agreement.
“They (Iran) have expressed they still want to make a deal to the President. We’re (US is) talking to them.”
Leavitt also announced that the United States had reimposed a naval blockade on vessels travelling to and from Iranian ports.
“We know that there is a blockade of ships directed by the President (Trump) for ships entering and departing Iranian ports only. This has been fully implemented and is in full force,” she said.
She added that more than 10,000 American sailors, Marines and airmen, supported by two aircraft carriers, over 20 warships and dozens of aircraft, were enforcing the blockade.
“During the first 24 hours of the blockade, US CENTCOM has redirected two compliant commercial vessels and disabled one non-compliant vessel,” she said, adding that the Strait remained open for ships not trading with Iranian ports.
Responding to questions about conflicting public comments from Trump and Vice-President JD Vance on diplomacy with Iran, Leavitt rejected suggestions of divisions within the administration.
“I can tell you the President, Vice-President, are on the exact same page,” she said, adding that Operation Epic Fury had left Iran’s leadership fragmented and weakened.
–IANS
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