Iran has “no trust” in the US and will only negotiate with Washington if it is actually serious about talks, said Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as talks on ending the war remain on hold amid an uneasy truce.
Regarding passage through the Strait of Hormuz, Araghchi said that all vessels can pass through the vital waterway except those which are at war with Tehran, adding that vessels wanting to transit should coordinate with its navy.
The situation around the conduit is “very complicated,” he added.
Araghchi said that “contradictory messages” by Washington have made Tehran reluctant to hold any negotiations, due to mounting suspicion as to its real intentions regarding negotiations, adding that the mediation process by Pakistan had not failed but was facing “difficulty.”
Iran is trying to keep the ceasefire intact so as to give diplomacy a chance but is prepared to resume fighting, he told reporters during the BRICS foreign minister summit in India.
Araghchi’s statement on Friday comes hours after US President Donald Trump said his patience with Iran was running out and that he’d agreed in talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping that Tehran must reopen the strait.
Araghchi said that Tehran would “appreciate any country which has the ability to help, particularly China.”
