Renewed U.S.-Iran fighting this week has sharply reduced vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz. Kpler data show Thursday transits fell to 22 from 30 the previous day. On Tuesday Iran targeted ships in the strait, damaging a Qatar LNG carrier, and exchanges resumed; since mutual strikes began that day Kpler records only two LNG vessels entering and one exiting. After a June 17 U.S.-Iran agreement to open talks, transits briefly rose to a peak before the ceasefire broke. Shipping broker Bra

Iran parliamentary speaker Ghalibaf said Iran has never sought war but will not yield to external pressure. He said the U.S., Israel and NATO had expected to force Iran to surrender within days before recent hostilities, but failed. Ghalibaf said the U.S. sought a ceasefire under economic, political and public pressure and that Iran does not trust the U.S.; only by preparing for war can it earn the right to negotiate. He warned that if the U.S. "breaches the memorandum of understanding between the sides," Iran will prepare for a "comprehensive defense" and defend its national interests. He added that although the international community wants an end to the war, the conflict will not end with Iran’s surrender.

Iran confirmed a Qatari political delegation arrived today for talks, with Doha said to be seeking to consolidate its mediator role. Qatar had earlier accused Iran over an incident in the Strait of Hormuz; US military forces subsequently carried out large-scale strikes on Iranian military and civilian targets on Wednesday and Thursday. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said he regretted Qatar’s accusations, calling them “questionable, contrary to the principle of good-neighborliness and unacceptable,” and said Qatar should, during the visit, explain why it sought to cooperate with the US to bypass Iran-designated shipping channels despite knowing Article 5 of the Islamabad memorandum, and why it rushed to accuse Iran before any direct communication.