US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: Iran has ruled out the possibility of immediate direct talks with the US, adding another hurdle to diplomatic efforts aimed at easing the tensions between Tehran and Washington.
Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is currently not negotiating with the US and is only receiving or sending messages through intermediaries. He said Iran will not return to formal talks until the US addresses what Tehran considers violations of an earlier MoU.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: Iran Says No Direct Talks With US
Araghchi said Iran and the US are not currently holding negotiations. According to Iran’s Mehr news agency, the foreign minister said intermediaries are still working to create conditions for a possible restart of talks.
“Efforts are under way to create grounds for negotiations,” he said, reiterating that there was no possibility of resuming talks until the US corrected its violations.
The statement underlines the difference between communication through third parties and formal negotiations. Iran says the current exchange of messages does not mean that direct diplomatic talks have resumed.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: Why Iran Is Refusing to Resume Negotiations
Tehran’s main objection centres on what Araghchi described as US violations of the MoU.
Iran wants Washington to address those alleged breaches before the two sides return to the negotiating table. The demand reflects the deep mistrust that has developed between the two governments after previous diplomatic efforts failed.
Iran has also demanded compensation for damage caused during the conflict and has tied progress on the Strait of Hormuz to broader negotiations. The position means that Washington and Tehran still need to resolve basic disagreements before they can move towards a comprehensive agreement.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: Iran and US Still Exchange Messages Through Intermediaries
Although Tehran says there are no negotiations, communication between the two sides has not completely stopped.
Intermediaries continue to carry messages between Washington and Tehran as regional countries attempt to keep diplomatic channels open. Recent discussions involving Oman have focused on practical issues surrounding the Strait of Hormuz and the possibility of creating conditions for broader talks.
This indirect communication could help both sides avoid a complete diplomatic breakdown without forcing either government to publicly commit to negotiations.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: Araghchi Says Hormuz Route Changes Do Not Mean Strait Is Open
Araghchi also addressed reports about possible changes to shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz. He said changing sea routes is a technical and legal matter and should not be interpreted as a full reopening of the waterway.
The distinction matters because Iran has been discussing possible arrangements to facilitate commercial shipping while maintaining its broader demands on the US. The US, meanwhile, has pushed for greater freedom of navigation through the strategically important waterway.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: Mistrust Remains Major Obstacle
The latest diplomatic deadlock reflects the lack of trust between Tehran and Washington.
Iranian officials have repeatedly questioned whether the US would honour any new understanding, while Washington has maintained pressure over Iran’s nuclear programme and military capabilities.
That mistrust has made even limited agreements difficult to establish.
Recent mediation efforts have therefore focused on smaller issues, including shipping arrangements and communication channels, instead of immediately attempting to settle every major dispute.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: Iran Says Talks Cannot Resume Until US Acts
For Tehran, the next step rests largely with Washington. Araghchi’s latest comments suggest Iran wants the US to first address the alleged violations before direct negotiations can restart.
This gives the dispute a clear sequence from Iran’s perspective: Washington must take corrective action, intermediaries must continue their diplomatic efforts and only then can formal negotiations potentially resume.
The US has yet to accept Iran’s position publicly.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: Iran, US Might Try to ‘Find Out Who’s Going to Blink First’
The current standoff could turn into a prolonged test of political will between the two countries.
Paul Musgrave, an associate professor of government at Georgetown University, said that if the Iran-Oman discussions continue, further negotiations with Washington could follow “over the points the US has control over”.
He noted that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had said Tehran-Muscat talks were close to a deal. “Now, the question is whether either side is really interested in going back to the MoU, which, of course, failed,” he said.
Musgrave said the situation could become “another round of chicken in which both sides are trying to find out who’s going to blink first”.
He said this was because Iran appeared to “be hardening its demands”, while US Vice President JD Vance’s recent statements indicated that “the administration is not going to back down”.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: What Happens Next?
The immediate focus will remain on the indirect communication between Iran and the US and Oman’s efforts to keep the diplomatic channel open. A breakthrough could allow Tehran and Washington to return to formal negotiations, but Iran’s latest position shows that such a step remains difficult.
For now, Tehran says no direct talks are taking place. Instead, intermediaries are carrying messages while both sides remain divided over the MoU, US military actions, compensation and the future of the Strait of Hormuz.
The next major development will likely depend on whether Washington responds to Iran’s demands and whether the Oman-mediated efforts can create enough trust for formal negotiations to restart.
