The United States and Iran appeared no closer on Saturday to an end to their war after the two sides exchanged fire in the Gulf amid a long-running ceasefire, while a US intelligence study concluded that Tehran could withstand a naval blockade for months.
Recent days have seen the biggest outbreak of fighting in and around the Strait of Hormuz since a ceasefire began a month ago, and the United Arab Emirates faced fresh attacks on Friday.
Washington has been waiting for Tehran’s response to a US proposal that would formally end the war before talks on controversial issues, including Iran’s nuclear program.
Speaking in Rome on Friday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States was expecting a response that day, although a spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry said Tehran was still evaluating its response.
Sporadic clashes continued on Friday between Iranian forces and US ships in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s Fars news agency reported.
Tasnim news agency later quoted an Iranian military source as saying that the situation was stable but warning that more fighting was possible.
