Tehran awaits US response on conditions for peace, maintains Strait closure

Trump, following discussions with Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani at the White House on Monday, indicated that additional military action against Iran is unnecessary. Qatar plays a significant role as a mediator in the conflict.

Rezaei dismissed claims of impending talks in Qatar as “a pure lie,” suggesting that the United States is promoting the idea of negotiations to alleviate economic pressure and lower oil prices. He affirmed that the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route currently closed by Iran, will remain shut until the US fulfills Tehran’s demands. “Their initial response was insufficient and deceptive, and we are still waiting for an explicit and clear response,” he said.

While the full list of conditions has not been publicly released, Rezaei and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi have indicated they include the lifting of sanctions, the end of a US naval blockade, and a cessation of hostilities, particularly those involving Israel in Lebanon. Araghchi previously suggested the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened within two days if these demands are met.

“The conflict with Iran will not be resolved through military means, nor by intensifying sanctions,” Araghchi told the state news agency IRNA. “The only solution is to adopt a language of respect, engage in diplomacy, and address Iran’s demands and conditions – which were outlined in the two-day proposal and remain on the table.”

The nine-month conflict has significantly impacted global markets and disrupted energy supplies, leading to price increases worldwide.

In Paris, where G7 foreign ministers were convening, Sheikh Mohammed engaged in discussions with the Saudi foreign minister and four senior European diplomats shortly after his meeting with Trump. The French Foreign Ministry stated that the talks would focus on the Iran crisis and its related security and economic consequences.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking in Paris, confirmed that Washington remains “open to diplomacy,” reiterating Trump’s stance that further military action is not currently required given the impact of economic measures. “The economic campaign is so devastating that right now there is no need for major combat operations,” Rubio stated.

Meanwhile, attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz have continued. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reported that three oil tankers caught fire on Tuesday after striking naval mines while navigating an “unauthorised route” in the eastern section of the strait. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency confirmed reports of incidents involving two tankers, with one reportedly struck by an unknown projectile northeast of Oman’s Lima village. This follows reports of at least 37 ship attacks in and near the Strait of Hormuz in November, the highest monthly total since the war began.