US-Iran Strikes Resume as Qatar Ceasefire Talks Stall Over Hormuz

President Donald Trump convened his cabinet at the White House on Wednesday after shifting the session from Camp David because of forecast rain. The meeting was set to review administration economic gains, fraud reduction efforts, and foreign policy developments at a time when the three-month conflict with Iran shows few signs of resolution.

Negotiations aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz have reached an impasse. Iran continues to restrict shipping through the waterway that normally carries one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies. Dallas Federal Reserve President Lorie Logan warned that prolonged closure would force sharper cuts in worldwide energy consumption, since inventory draws cannot offset the roughly 13 million barrels per day shortfall indefinitely. U.S. oil producers expect only modest output gains of 250,000 barrels per day this year and 500,000 next year, far below the needed replacement volume.

Strikes have persisted despite the April ceasefire. U.S. Central Command reported new attacks on Iranian missile sites and mine-laying boats on Monday, describing them as defensive measures. Iran responded by claiming it downed a U.S. drone and asserting its right to retaliate against any violations. South Korean investigators concluded that anti-ship missiles of Iranian origin struck a South Korean bulk carrier in the strait earlier this month, damaging the vessel and prompting rerouting of other tankers.

Trump has described a potential agreement as close while noting that talks continue. Iran, however, has refused to relinquish control of the strait without additional concessions, including the release of $12 billion in frozen assets. Former military commanders have stated that Iranian mining activity and continued restrictions indicate the regime is not negotiating in good faith and is instead attempting to extract leverage.

The economic effects extend beyond energy markets. Higher fuel, food, and fertilizer prices have followed the supply constraints. Logan noted that end users may need to shift to alternative sources or reduce activity if normal flows do not resume soon. These pressures arrive as broader surveys show rising economic pessimism.

Iranian domestic politics reveal deepening divisions over how to manage the standoff. Regime-linked media have reported open clashes inside parliament and security institutions between factions favoring limited concessions and those opposing any compromise that could weaken regional proxies or internal control. Worker and pensioner protests have continued amid inflation and currency weakness.

The cabinet session occurs against this backdrop of constrained supply routes and repeated ceasefire breaches. Administration officials have emphasized tracking both domestic economic indicators and the foreign policy developments tied to the Hormuz situation.