DOHA, Oct. 31 – Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi told reporters that Tehran has no plans to meet United States officials, even as talks with Qatari and Pakistani mediators continue over the conditions required to end the crisis. The comments came as Iran’s presented demands for a new shipping route, the lifting of sanctions, and an end to hostilities in the region remain unaddressed by Washington.
Araghchi explained that the Iranian delegation had travelled to Qatar for further discussions, and that his aide was present to continue consultations with the mediators. He insisted that Tehran would decide whether to hold direct or indirect negotiations only after Washington accepted Iran’s core demands. According to him, the conditions include recognition of a “new” Strait of Hormuz shipping route that Tehran has devised with Oman and the closure of other routes.
The foreign minister also highlighted other demands, such as the lifting of sanctions imposed after the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), a reduction in U.S. military forces in the region, the restoration of sanctions waivers for Iranian oil exports, and the release of all frozen Iranian funds, including those held in Qatar. He added that Iran also sought an end to hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon.
Araghchi said that mediators had presented proposals concerning Iran’s nuclear program, which Tehran is reviewing as part of a second phase of the negotiation. He added that a letter from U.S. Vice President JD Vance had been reviewed at top‑level meetings, describing the American effort to open the door to broader dialogue and understanding as a “positive step.”
The last decisive step between the two sides was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on June 18, which aimed to end the war in the region on all fronts. The MoU set a deadline of 60 days – ending on August 17 – for the two countries to reach a final agreement on Iran’s nuclear program and the removal of sanctions. However, by the end of that period, the parties had failed to achieve sufficient progress toward a deal, leaving the current impasse.
Earlier tensions rose on February 28, when Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities. In retaliation, Iran conducted waves of missile and drone strikes on Israel and U.S. bases in the region and tightened its control over section of the Strait of Hormuz. A ceasefire between the warring parties was achieved on April 8.
At present, Araghchi confirmed that the Iranian side would consider direct talks only once the United States accepts Iran’s conditions, and continues to rely on Qatari and Pakistani mediators to carry the negotiation forward. Whether the U.S. will accede to those demands remains unclear, and the future path of Iranian-U.S. relations is still in question.