Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made it clear on Sunday that military force cannot resolve the ongoing war with the United States. Speaking to foreign ambassadors in Tehran, he stressed that only fair negotiations can bring an end to the conflict that began in late February.
Araghchi warned that if adversaries return to military confrontation, Iran’s response will be stronger than before. “There is no military solution, nor any solution based on new sanctions,” he said. “Only negotiations based on justice and fairness” can end the fighting.
The main sticking point remains the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has restricted shipping through this vital oil route since the war started, targeting vessels that transit without its approval. The United States has answered with a counter-blockade of Iranian ports and has attacked ships it claims violated the rules.
On Sunday, Britain’s maritime agency UKMTO reported that a tanker in the Hormuz area was hit by an unknown projectile. The engine room suffered damage, but the crew stayed safe and no environmental harm was recorded.
Tehran and Washington remain deadlocked. Iranian officials presented seven conditions for reopening the strait during indirect talks at the United Nations last week. These include a full Middle East ceasefire, the unfreezing of Iranian assets, the lifting of oil sanctions, and an end to the US naval blockade.
US President Donald Trump rejected the proposal but left room for more talks or further military action. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi confirmed that Washington had sent its response through intermediaries and that Tehran is now reviewing it.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei noted that the latest US counterproposal still focuses on nuclear issues, while Iran insists the priority must be the Strait of Hormuz and an end to disruptions of its commercial shipping.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad resigned for personal reasons. Hamid Bovard, head of the National Iranian Oil Company, has taken over as acting minister. The change comes as US sanctions and the blockade continue to pressure Iran’s economy.
Despite weeks of heavy bombardment earlier this year, the conflict has shifted toward economic pressure and control of the critical waterway. Tehran continues to prepare for every possible scenario while keeping the door open for diplomacy.
