Iran and the United States remain far from an agreement to end the war between them, after Tehran rejected Washington's terms as excessive.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters that the two sides are nowhere near reaching an accord to halt the fighting. The official stated that Tehran considers the demands presented by the United States to be overstated and has no intention of accepting them.
The official explained that Iran and the United States remain far from achieving an agreement on ending the war, adding that Tehran will not accept what it describes as excessive demands from Washington. The official said that specific conditions set by Tehran must be fulfilled before the Strait of Hormuz can be reopened.
Strategic waterway at the centre of dispute
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most critical maritime transit points in the world, separating Iran from Oman and the United Arab Emirates. The narrow waterway connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. It serves as the primary route for roughly a fifth of global petroleum shipments, making commercial navigation through the passage vital for international energy supplies.
Washington and Tehran have had no formal diplomatic relations for decades, communicating through indirect channels and foreign intermediaries during periods of crisis. Disagreements surrounding maritime passage in the Persian Gulf have repeatedly impacted international commerce and shaped negotiations between the Islamic Republic and Western governments.
Covert American strikes on Iranian targets
The diplomatic impasse comes amid earlier revelations that the United States has been secretly carrying out small strikes against Iran for some time. Those strikes were launched without public announcement as tensions continued between the two adversaries.
American authorities have deliberately avoided publicising the military operation to avoid signalling any intention to resume full-scale combat operations. Officials in Washington sought to keep the strikes discreet, even as formal negotiations to bring an end to the war remain stalled over the conflicting demands of both governments.
