Tehran hardens stance: "There will be no talks with the USA" — six conditions for opening Hormuz

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Sunday that there are no negotiations taking place between Iran and the United States, and that communication between the sides is currently being conducted through intermediaries only.

"There are no talks with the USA, only an exchange of messages through intermediaries," said Araghchi, according to a report by the Iranian news agency "Mehr".

According to the Foreign Minister, intermediaries continue to work in an attempt to find a way to allow the resumption of talks. However, he clarified that Tehran is not prepared to return to the negotiating table under current conditions.

"As long as the US violations of the memorandum of understanding do not cease, and as long as Washington does not compensate for its violations, there will be no possibility to resume negotiations," he said.

"The old routes will be replaced": Contacts regarding the Strait of Hormuz

In parallel, Araghchi addressed the contacts being held with Oman regarding the future of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. According to him, the sides are engaged in determining a new maritime route, and contacts on the matter are in the "final stage."

"The old routes will be replaced by new routes," said the Iranian Foreign Minister, adding that Iranian and Omani experts are working on formulating them. Existing shipping routes were established in 1968, but following the recent war, it became clear to Tehran that changes were needed. Araghchi clarified that upon the completion of the process, shipping will be conducted via the new routes.

Tehran has set six conditions that it says Washington must fulfill before it agrees to open the vital shipping route:

1. Change its conduct

2. Stop military operations against Iran and its allies in Lebanon, the Palestinian territories, Yemen, and Iraq

3. Remove sanctions

4. Withdraw American forces from around Iran

5. Pay compensation

6. Release Iranian assets frozen abroad

Oman condemns the attack on ships in the strait

These remarks come after the Omani Foreign Ministry condemned on Saturday the attacks on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. In Muscat, they defined the attacks as a "violation of international law and the sovereignty of territorial waters," and warned that they endanger maritime shipping and regional security.

Oman stated that negotiations on shipping arrangements are being conducted "in a positive and constructive atmosphere," and called for refraining from actions that could harm the progress achieved.

The Omani statement was published against the backdrop of two incidents that occurred yesterday. The UAE accused Iran of attacking an ADNOC oil tanker with a missile while it was crossing the strait. In parallel, the British maritime trade organization UKMTO reported on a ship hit by an unidentified missile near Khasab in Oman. A fire broke out on the vessel, which was later extinguished, and the crew and the ship were reported as safe.