Tehran, Aug 2026 : Iran has said there are currently no direct negotiations underway with the United States, with Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi stating that Tehran will not return to the negotiating table until Washington addresses what Iran describes as violations of a recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Speaking to reporters at the Centre for Political and International Studies of Iran’s Foreign Ministry, Araghchi said intermediaries were continuing efforts to create conditions for the resumption of talks. However, he stressed that Tehran had set clear conditions for restarting the diplomatic process.
“We currently have no negotiations with the United States. Intermediaries are still making efforts to find ways to resume negotiations,” Araghchi said, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency.
He maintained that Iran would not agree to resume discussions unless the US ended what Tehran considers violations of the MoU and took steps to compensate for the breaches.
“Until the violations of the memorandum of understanding by the United States are ended and the United States does not make amends for what it has violated, in our opinion, there is no possibility of resuming negotiations,” the Iranian Foreign Minister said.
The comments highlight the continuing uncertainty surrounding the diplomatic engagement between Tehran and Washington, despite recent statements from Iranian leaders expressing an interest in pursuing a peaceful resolution.
Araghchi also provided an update on discussions with Oman concerning navigation arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz. He said Iran and Oman were in the final stages of negotiations on a new maritime route intended to replace existing routes.
According to the minister, technical experts are currently working on determining the new navigation corridors and addressing the legal and operational aspects involved.
However, Araghchi made clear that reaching an agreement on a new maritime route should not be interpreted as an immediate reopening of the strategic waterway.
“Of course, this does not mean the opening of the Strait of Hormuz. This agreement may be reached, but the opening of the Strait of Hormuz is subject to a series of conditions,” he said.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global energy corridor through which a substantial share of international oil and gas shipments passes, making developments surrounding its security and navigation closely watched by regional and international powers.
Araghchi’s remarks came a day after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran remained committed to pursuing peace under the framework of the MoU, provided Washington helped create an atmosphere of trust.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Pezeshkian said Iran was prepared to use the MoU as the foundation for further engagement if the United States abandoned what Tehran considers a climate of distrust.
He also stressed that Iran would continue to honour its commitments only to the extent that the US fulfilled its own obligations.
The contrasting emphasis on diplomacy and conditions reflects Tehran’s current approach: maintaining an opening for negotiations while insisting that any future engagement must be based on reciprocal commitments, trust and respect for the terms already agreed upon.
For now, however, Araghchi’s statement indicates that formal US-Iran negotiations remain suspended, while diplomatic intermediaries continue efforts to find a possible path back to the negotiating table.
