Tehran \u200chas “no trust” in the US and is interested in negotiating with Washington only if it is serious, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday, as talks on ending the war remained on hold. All vessels can pass through the Strait of Hormuz except those at war with Tehran, Araghchi told reporters in New Delhi during a visit to attend the BRICS foreign ministers’ \u200cmeeting, adding that vessels \u200cwanting to transit should coordinate \u200cwith \u2060its navy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The situation \u2060around the key conduit was “very complicated”, he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Iran effectively shut the strait, which earlier handled about one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply, to most shipping traffic after its war with the US and Israel erupted in February.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Washington and \u2060Tehran announced a ceasefire last month \u200cbut have been struggling \u200cto thrash out a permanent peace pact. Talks, mediated by \u200cPakistan, have been suspended since Iran and the \u200cUS each rejected the other’s most recent proposals last week.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“Contradictory messages” have made us reluctant about the real intention of the Americans on negotiations, Araghchi said, adding \u200cthat the mediation process by Pakistan has not failed but is in “difficulty”.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Iran is \u2060trying \u2060to keep the ceasefire to give diplomacy a chance but is also prepared to go back to fighting, he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The issues holding up negotiations between the two sides include Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its control of the Hormuz. Araghchi\u2019s statement on Friday came hours after US President Donald Trump said his patience with Iran was running out and agreed in talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping that Tehran must reopen the strait.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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