Kathmandu— US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signaled on Tuesday that there may be a breakthrough in talks between Washington and Tehran, indicating that an agreement to reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz could be reached 'today or tomorrow'. The comments come after weeks of heightened rhetoric from US President Donald Trump, who had threatened what he described as one of the largest military campaigns since World War II against Iran.

Diplomatic Engagement Amidst Threats

Bessent's remarks during an interview with CNBC highlighted the shift towards diplomatic engagement following President Trump's aggressive stance. He noted that Tehran's air force and navy had been 'wiped out' and substantial portions of its missile arsenal destroyed, which he claimed facilitated the current talks.

'The Iranians are in a position where they have to be more cooperative,' Bessent said, emphasizing the potential for a deal to open the Strait and move towards normalization. This comes as regional players such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and others have called for diplomacy over military action.

Iran's Stance on Sovereignty

In response to these developments, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian asserted that Tehran is not interested in stoking regional conflict. He emphasized Iran’s commitment to safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

'The Islamic Republic of Iran will never compromise on its national security,' Pezeshkian stated during a press conference on Monday.

(With inputs from ANI)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.