Iran Says No Direct US Negotiations Until Violations Addressed

Iran is not engaged in direct negotiations with the United States and will not resume formal talks until Washington addresses what Tehran considers violations of a June memorandum of understanding, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday, August 9. The statement came as Iran maintained its closure of the Strait of Hormuz and outlined a series of demands for reopening the critical waterway.

Araghchi, speaking from Oman where he is holding bilateral talks, clarified that while messages are being exchanged through intermediaries, this should not be characterized as negotiations. "We currently have no negotiations with the United States. Intermediaries are still making efforts to find ways to resume negotiations," Araghchi said. He emphasized that Tehran would not return to the negotiating table until the U.S. ceased its alleged violations of the memorandum of understanding and made amends for them.

The diplomatic stalemate persists 53 days after the signing of the memorandum of understanding and 162 days after the outbreak of the wider regional conflict. The interim deal, reached in June, outlined a path toward peace negotiations but broke down last month after nearly two...