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Iran says ships can pass Strait of Hormuz as Trump warns of bombings without a deal

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Special Series Middle East conflict Conflict in the Middle East has been escalating. These stories provide context for current developments and the history that led up to them. By NPR's International Desk A container ship sits at anchor as a small motorboat passes in the foreground in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, on May 2.
− Amirhosein Khorgooi/ISNA via AP hide caption Iran's Revolutionary Guard on Wednesday said safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz would be provided, under unspecified procedures, after President Trump paused a U.S.
+ Amirhosein Khorgooi/ISNA via AP hide caption Iran is assessing the Trump administration's latest proposal and will relate its response to mediating country Pakistan, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Wednesday. "The American plan and proposal is still being reviewed by Iran, and after summing up its points of view, Iran will convey its views to the Pakistani side," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei told Iran's ISNA news agency. NPR has not confirmed the details of the proposal, and the White House has not made them public. Middle East conflict Skeletons in their clothing: Recovering bodies from the rubble in Gaza ISNA said Iran's negotiators are discussing the end of the war, not the nuclear issue, which would come at a later stage of negotiations.
− military effort to guide merchant vessels through the strategic waterway.
+ The news outlet dismissed U.S. news reports about a memorandum of understanding as "media speculation." The comments came after President Trump issued a mixed message about the status of diplomacy with Iran. It follows Trump's sudden suspension Tuesday of a U.S. military effort to help merchant vessels transit the Strait of Hormuz, while continuing a U.S. naval blockade on Iran's ports.
− "With the end of the aggressors' threats and in light of new procedures, safe and sustainable transit through the strait will be facilitated," the Revolutionary Guard's navy command said in an online statement.
+ "Assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is, perhaps, a big assumption, the already legendary Epic Fury will be at an end, and the highly effective Blockade will allow the Hormuz Strait to be OPEN TO ALL, including Iran," Trump wrote online Wednesday morning.
− It did not give details about the new terms.
+ "If they don't agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before." Loading...
− Middle East conflict Skeletons in their clothing: Recovering bodies from the rubble in Gaza The Strait of Hormuz — an important passageway for oil, fertilizer and other goods — has been effectively closed since the U.S.
+ The Strait of Hormuz — an important passageway for oil, fertilizer and other goods — has been effectively closed since the U.S.
and Israel launched their attack on Iran on Feb. 28, disrupting global energy supplies and pushing up fuel prices.
− Iran has attacked commercial ships that want to transit the strait without its approval.
+ Iran has attacked commercial ships that try to transit the strait without its approval.
The U.S.
− has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports since mid-April. Loading... Moments after the Iranian statement, President Trump wrote online that the war would end once an agreement was reached with Iran, but he warned that U.S.
+ has imposed its naval blockade since April 13.
− bombing would resume if not.
+ U.S. Central Command said as of Wednesday, its blockade had turned around 52 vessels.
− "Assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is, perhaps, a big assumption, the already legendary Epic Fury will be at an end, and the highly effective Blockade will allow the Hormuz Strait to be OPEN TO ALL, including Iran," Trump said.
+ Starting Monday, the U.S.
− "If they don't agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before." Iran has confirmed receiving a U.S.
+ launched an effort called "Project Freedom" to break through Iran's stranglehold on the strait.
− proposal and said it is under review.
+ Two U.S.-flagged merchant ships are known to have gotten through during the brief effort. The U.S. military said the operation came under fire from the Iranians and that several Iranian Revolutionary Guard speedboats were sunk.
− "The American plan and proposal is still being reviewed by Iran, and after summing up its points of view, Iran will convey its views to the Pakistani side," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei told Iran's state ISNA news agency on Wednesday, referring to mediating country Pakistan that has relayed messages and hosted talks between Iran and the U.S.
+ Then on Tuesday, Trump announced the operation was on pause due to "great progress" toward a final agreement with Iran.
− This is a developing story that will be updated.
+ Iran's Revolutionary Guard on Wednesday said safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz would be provided, but it was not immediately clear how much the move would reopen the shipping route.
+ "With the end of the aggressors' threats and in light of new procedures, safe and sustainable transit through the strait will be facilitated," the Revolutionary Guard's navy command said in an online statement. It did not give details about the new terms. This is a developing story that may be updated.
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