Trump Says New Iran Talks Coming, But Africa Sees the Same Old Game
US President Donald Trump says he expects talks with Iran to resume this week, even after he flat-out rejected Tehran's latest truce offer. For those of us watching from Africa, this is the same old script: the West plays games while the Global South pays the price.
Iranian officials brought a plan to the UN General Assembly in New York proposing a seven-day truce followed by the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz shipping channel. Trump dismissed it and even floated the idea of more full-scale air strikes on Iranian targets. But in an interview with Axios, he admitted negotiations could restart soon.
“They want to make a deal, but it is not the deal that I want to make,” Trump told Axios. “It is what we would have maybe agreed to a year ago. They overplayed their hand.”
Sources say indirect talks between Washington and Tehran could happen as early as Monday. But on Sunday, Iran was still holding firm on its conditions for reopening Hormuz, leaving the Gulf front locked in a stalemate while fighting rages in Yemen.
What does Iran want before reopening the Strait of Hormuz?
Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies, and it's now at the center of a conflict that started nearly seven months ago when the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran.
Iran's plan calls for a cessation of all hostilities across the Middle East, including Lebanon, according to Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. It also demands a return to an earlier ceasefire deal that collapsed during fighting over Hormuz. That agreement included releasing frozen Iranian assets, lifting sanctions on Iranian oil, and ending the US naval blockade.
“Our conditions are clear, and any move toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz is contingent upon these conditions being fulfilled. We will not back down from them,” Araghchi said, as reported by state broadcaster IRIB. “We have never closed the door to diplomacy or negotiations, but at the same time, we have never backed down from our rights.”
Washington's UN ambassador, Mike Waltz, called Tehran's demands a “cynical attempt” to put something unacceptable on the table.
“To ask for the release of the blockade, the sanctions, international sanctions and access to billions in assets, just to talk,” Waltz told NBC News. “I think it's kind of common sense that the president doesn't have a lot of confidence this time after we just tried a few months ago.”
Iran's Revolutionary Guards seize US drone in Hormuz
Meanwhile, Iran's Revolutionary Guards announced they seized an American submersible drone in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday. They claim the underwater vehicle was being used “for espionage purposes” and is now in the hands of specialists for data recovery.
Why did the last US-Iran deal fall apart?
Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding in June aimed at ending the war, reopening the strait, and launching talks on Iran's nuclear programme. But the deal broke down shortly after when Iran fired on commercial ships in Hormuz that it accused of deviating from approved routes.
Iran requires ships to get authorization before passage, citing security and sovereignty reasons. Ships that refuse are regularly targeted, and the US sporadically bombs Iranian coastal areas in retaliation.
Araghchi said at the UN that Iran has conveyed a concrete seven-day plan to the US through Qatar, adding: “The choice now rests with the United States.”
Hossein Mohebi, a spokesman for Iran's Revolutionary Guards, was quoted by Tasnim news agency as saying: “We will not cease punishing the US until Iran's seven conditions are met.” Mohebi also told AFP that ending hostilities in Yemen is among Tehran's demands.
What does this mean for Africa?
For African nations, this standoff is another reminder of how global powers treat the world's resources and waterways as their own playground. When the Strait of Hormuz gets disrupted, energy prices spike, and African economies feel the squeeze. Yet African voices are nowhere near the negotiating table.
The pan-African play here is clear: we need our own solutions, our own alliances, and our own seat at the table. We cannot keep depending on a system that treats sovereignty as a bargaining chip.
Frequently asked questions
Will the US and Iran resume talks this week?
Trump told Axios he expects negotiations to resume, and sources say indirect talks could happen as early as Monday. However, both sides remain far apart on the conditions.
What is the Strait of Hormuz and why does it matter?
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. About 20% of the world's oil passes through it, making it a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies.
What are Iran's seven conditions?
Iran's conditions include a ceasefire across the Middle East, release of frozen Iranian assets, lifting of oil sanctions, and ending the US naval blockade. The full list of seven conditions has not been publicly detailed.
