The Bhumjaithai Party has emerged as the largest party in Thailand's House of Representatives, according to preliminary results released by the country's Election Commission on Monday.
As of 94 percent vote counting the Bhumjaithai Party captured 193 seats.
"Bhumjaithai's victory today is a victory for all Thais, whether you voted for Bhumjaithai Party or not," said Anutin Charnvirakul, Thailand's caretaker Prime Minister and leader of the Bhumjaithai Party at a press conference on Sunday.
Thai political analyst said the desire for stability is the key for Anutin's election success.
"What determined the winning of the election this time is the nationalist sentiments, the conflict that we have with Cambodia, the stability that they need at this particular point. And I think for the rural voters who actually voted more for Bhumjaithai, for them, I think they need a safety net which is not about large economic reforms, but they need something which is closer to them," said Virot Ari, a political analyst at Bangkok’s Thammasat University.
Since the Bhumjaithai Party failed to secure more than half of the seats in the lower house, it has to form a coalition government with other political parties.
The People's Party and the Pheu Thai Party ranked second and third, respectively, with 118 and 74 seats. The Kla Tham Party and the Democratic Party each got 58 and 22 seats, taking fourth and fifth positions.
Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, leader of Thailand's People's Party, told the press on Sunday that the party is ready to act as the opposition party.
"No matter the reasons behind how people voted today, the People's Party is ready to continue working in politics, to rebuild political institutions, and to push forward policies for all people," he said.
Thailand’s Bhumjaithai Party prepares for coalition talks after election win
Iran and the United States remained locked in disagreement over control of the Strait of Hormuz during talks in Islamabad, the Pakistani capital, on Saturday, with the Islamic Republic flatly rejecting an American proposal for "joint management" of the strategic waterway.
Two sources familiar with the negotiations said Iranian negotiators insisted on retaining full control of the Strait, including the right to levy transit fees on vessels passing through the key maritime chokepoint.
The issue has emerged as a major sticking point in the negotiations between the two sides, which began on Saturday.
Tensions over the Strait have escalated in recent days.
On Saturday, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that two American guided-missile destroyers, the USS Frank E. Peterson and USS Michael Murphy, transited the Strait and commenced mine-sweeping operations in the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM described the operation as part of an effort to clear mines allegedly laid by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and to establish a new safety corridor for commercial shipping.
Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, said the new corridor would be opened to the maritime industry soon to facilitate the free flow of commerce. He stressed that the Strait, a vital international waterway, is crucial for regional and global economies.
Additional U.S. forces, including underwater drones, will join the clearance effort in the coming days.
Iran, however, has categorically denied the U.S. account.
On Saturday, a spokesperson for Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters rejected the American claim that its warships had approached or entered the Strait. The spokesperson reaffirmed that Iran maintains full control over transit through the waterway.
The conflicting statements came as delegations from Iran and the United States are currently in Islamabad for talks on easing tensions in the Middle East after a ceasefire was achieved between the two countries early Wednesday.
Following a meeting between senior officials, Iranian and U.S. expert and technical teams had reached the stage of exchanging texts to develop a joint framework for further talks.
However, the third round of U.S.-Iran negotiations concluded with "serious disagreements," the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported Sunday. According to Tasnim, the Strait of Hormuz and several other issues remain sources of "serious disagreement" in the negotiations held in Pakistan.
Iran's government said on social media that despite the disagreements, negotiations will continue.
The Iranian delegation at the talks includes Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of the Iranian Parliament; Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi; and Ali Bagheri, a member of Iran's Supreme National Security Council.
The U.S. side is represented by Vice President J.D. Vance, President's Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Special Peace Envoy Jared Kushner.
Iranian officials have previously signaled that any outcome must preserve the country's military achievements and safeguard the rights of its people, underscoring the high stakes of the discussions over the strategic waterway.
Iran, U.S. at odds over control of Strait of Hormuz as Tehran rejects joint management
