Ahmed Kamel – Egypt daily News
Regional tensions in the Middle East have intensified following fresh criticism from Donald Trump of Iran’s negotiating stance, while major shipping companies increasingly divert vessels away from the Red Sea and the Suez Canal amid mounting security concerns.
Speaking on Friday, Trump said he was “not happy with the way the Iranians are negotiating” following the latest round of talks held in Geneva. He accused Iran of failing to negotiate in good faith but indicated that additional discussions were expected.
“We’re not happy about what’s happening. They have to make a deal, and it would be wise for them to do so,” Trump said, adding that he has not yet made a final decision regarding Iran. He reiterated Washington’s long-standing position that Tehran must not acquire nuclear weapons, noting that Iran has not yet explicitly declared it will refrain from doing so.
According to a Bloomberg report, US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner left the Geneva negotiations disappointed with the trajectory of the talks. Their assessment contrasted with a more optimistic tone from regional mediators.
Badr Albusaidi, Oman’s foreign minister, praised what he described as “notable progress” in a post on X. He later said he met US Vice President JD Vance in Washington, D.C. to review the negotiations and expressed hope for further decisive progress, stressing that “peace is within reach.”
Heightened regional alert
The diplomatic friction has deepened anxieties across the Middle East, particularly given the region’s central role in global energy flows, with roughly a quarter of seaborne oil shipments passing through its waterways.
Several countries have moved to protect their citizens and diplomatic staff. Italy urged its nationals to leave Iran and exercise caution across the region. Poland issued similar guidance, calling on its citizens to depart Iran, Israel and Lebanon immediately.
The United Kingdom announced the temporary withdrawal of embassy staff from Iran, while the United States authorized the departure of non-emergency personnel from its embassy in Jerusalem and earlier ordered the evacuation of its diplomatic mission in Beirut.
Other governments, including Australia, Finland, Sweden and Singapore, have also advised their citizens to leave the region or exercise heightened caution.
Shipping reroutes and military signals
Against this backdrop, major global shipping firms have begun avoiding the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, instead rerouting vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, a move that increases transit times and costs but is viewed as safer amid the deteriorating security environment.
Meanwhile, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) published images on Friday showing the US destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG-121) conducting recent live-fire exercises with its Mk.38 naval gun in the Arabian Sea, underscoring American defensive readiness and maritime operational capability.
With negotiations continuing but mistrust deepening, diplomats and markets alike remain on edge, watching closely for signs of either breakthrough or escalation in one of the world’s most strategically sensitive regions.
