Iran Still Not Willing to Negotiate Directly with the US, New Hormuz Route Almost Complete

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi / DOK FOTO kremlin.ru.

JAKARTA - Iran has confirmed that it has not conducted direct negotiations with the United States. Communication between the two countries is currently only taking place through mediators, while Iran and Oman's talks on a new shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz have entered the final stage.

Anadolu Agency, quoted on Sunday, August 9, reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said direct negotiations with Washington could not be resumed as long as the issue of the US violation of the memorandum of understanding had not been resolved.

"As long as the violation of the memorandum of understanding by the United States has not ended and the United States has not compensated for what it has violated, negotiations cannot be restarted," Araghchi told reporters, quoting the Tasnim news agency.

According to Araghchi, communication between Iran and the US is still carried out through third parties.

"The mediators are still trying to find new ways to negotiate," he said.

Meanwhile, Iran is also discussing a new shipping route with Oman through the Strait of Hormuz.

Araghchi said the talks had made progress and were at an advanced stage.

However, he stressed that the formation of the new route does not mean that the Strait of Hormuz will immediately reopen.

"This of course does not mean reopening the Strait of Hormuz," Araghchi said.

According to Araghchi, the reopening of the strait depends on "a series of conditions". Araghchi did not elaborate on the conditions in question.

Regional tensions have escalated after the United States and Israel attacked Iran in February.

Tehran and Washington then agreed to a ceasefire in April. The two parties then signed a memorandum of understanding in June aimed at ending the military conflict and reaching a long-term peace agreement.

However, the deal collapsed last month.

Iran and the US have been exchanging attacks for nearly two weeks before US President Donald Trump abruptly halted the bombing amid reports of talks to resolve the conflict.