Iran rules out new U.S. talks for now
Iran says it will not begin new talks with the United States unless Washington stops violating the war-ending memorandum of understanding between the two sides and takes steps to repair the damage. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said there are no direct negotiations now, although messages are still being exchanged through mediators. He said some countries are trying to create conditions for talks, but Iran sees no basis for resumption while the US remains in breach.
Araghchi linked the current deadlock to what he described as the US-Israeli assault on Iran and said the ceasefire that followed came after Iranian resistance and retaliatory action. He said Tehran signed the Islamabad agreement, but the US broke it by striking Iran, prompting Iranian armed forces to hit strategic American targets across West Asia in response.
He also addressed discussions with Oman over new maritime arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz. According to him, the talks are in their final stage and could lead to new traffic routes, with specialists preparing charts and maps. But he said this should not be seen as reopening the strait. Any wider change, he added, depends on other conditions already conveyed to the US through intermediaries.
Iran and the U.S. are not engaged in talks and Tehran will not start them as long as Washington breaches an interim deal signed in June, Araqchi said, adding that messages are being exchanged via intermediaries.
US President Donald Trump said in an interview with Axios that the US was "low-keying" it with Iran. "We are only semi-negotiating with them. We are just watching Iran with its huge inflation and the fact they have no money."
