Iran says diplomacy possible if US drops pressure

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday that diplomacy with the United States was still possible six months into the war, but only if Washington accepts that its pressure campaign will not work.

“Putting diplomacy back on track isn't impossible. It hinges on US understanding of one simple fact: pressure doesn't work,” Araghchi posted on X. He said the United States should “build trust, speak respectfully, acknowledge our rights, and uphold commitments.”

The comments came after Araghchi met Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Tehran on Thursday to discuss the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran closed at the start of the war. The meeting followed a week of Iranian talks with Oman and Pakistan.

Diplomatic efforts led by mediators including Pakistan and Qatar have tried for months to end the war, which began with US and Israeli action against Iran in late February. A ceasefire was agreed in April and a memorandum of understanding towards a final peace deal was signed in June, but no final agreement has followed.

The April ceasefire ended the most intense fighting, but sporadic attacks, mainly around Hormuz, have weakened prospects for a peace deal. Tehran says Hormuz will remain closed until Washington fulfils commitments under the June memorandum, including lifting a US naval counter-blockade of Iranian ports and removing sanctions.

Iranian lawmaker Esmail Kowsari told state television Friday that if the United States did not respect its commitments, Hormuz would remain closed and Washington should be ready for Iranian “offensive actions”.

The US counter-blockade is squeezing petrol supplies in Iran amid a shortfall in domestic production. Washington has increased economic pressure on Tehran, while US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said “no one is above the reach of US sanctions” when asked whether Washington would target Chinese banks that do business with Iran.

China has defended its cooperation with Tehran and vowed to safeguard its interests. China remains able to buy Iranian crude, an important source of revenue for Tehran, via overland routes not reliant on the Strait of Hormuz.