Speaking to reporters in Tehran on Sunday, Araqchi said, “Intermediaries are still making efforts to find ways to resume negotiations.”
The foreign minister, however, stressed that Iran sees no possibility of restarting talks until the US stops violating the memorandum of understanding and compensates for its violations.
Regarding Iran’s talks with Oman, the foreign minister said, “The negotiations with Oman are about determining a new maritime route in the Strait of Hormuz. We are at the final stage, and the old routes will be replaced by new routes. Specialists are working on the routes.”
He emphasized that reaching an agreement with Oman on a new maritime route does not mean that the Strait of Hormuz will be reopened.
“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 number of conditions,” he stressed.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei had said earlier that Tehran is not currently negotiating with Washington and that the only ongoing talks are bilateral discussions with Oman concerning safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Baqaei said the two sides are working to establish a temporary arrangement for safe maritime passage, stressing that the issue concerns Iran and Oman as the two littoral states.
In separate comments, IRGC spokesman General Hossein Mohebbi has said that reopening the strategic waterway is “completely independent” of the Iran-Oman negotiations and depends on the US accepting Iran’s conditions.