Tehran is considering a temporary suspension of maritime traffic through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, seeking to avoid testing the limits of a U.S. naval blockade and undermining a new diplomatic outreach effort with Washington, according to a source familiar with the internal deliberations cited by Bloomberg. The same source noted that the possible move reflects the Iranian side’s intention to avoid direct escalation at a particularly sensitive juncture, as the two countries are arranging the details for a new face-to-face meeting.

The United States and Iran are reportedly considering further negotiations aimed at extending the ceasefire, while Donald Trump has been moving since yesterday to implement a naval blockade to restrict the Islamic Republic’s oil exports. The aim is to hold new talks before the ceasefire ends next week.

A temporary suspension of shipping activity for a few days is seen by some sources as a realistic option to avoid an incident that could undermine the fragile efforts to restart the dialogue. However, Tehran’s stance remains fluid, as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps could change its strategy in an attempt to demonstrate that the US blockade can be challenged without consequences, a development that would increase the risk of renewed tension.

Oil markets are closely monitoring the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy transport channels. Tehran has restricted almost all non-Iranian shipments through the region, while the United States has launched its own naval blockade. After the release of the information about a possible de-escalation, futures fell, with Brent down about $1.20 per barrel to near $98.

Rachel Zieba, a senior researcher at the Center for a New American Security, noted that a potential halt in shipments could be a sign of intent to de-escalate. She said, “if Iran does indeed suspend shipments, it would indicate that it is seeking to avoid a resumption of a hot war,” noting that markets are likely to focus more on the prospect of an agreement than on short-term supply disruptions.

For her part, Control Risks analyst Anisee Basiri Tabrizzi suggested that the temporary pause could act as a confidence-building measure ahead of the next round of talks, stressing that Tehran is likely to gain more benefits than losses from such a move.

The Iranian embassy in the United Kingdom and the Foreign Office in Tehran did not immediately respond to requests for comment, underscoring the sensitive nature of the consultations.