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Iran demands end to US naval blockade as fears of renewed conflict grow

Washington has shown little willingness to revive the agreement. The US has increased economic pressure on Tehran and refocused on Iran’s nuclear programme.

Iran has called on the United States to lift its naval blockade and demonstrate its commitment to diplomacy, as stalled negotiations and threats of renewed military strikes raise fears of a fresh escalation in the conflict.

“Iran is prepared to give diplomacy another chance if we see strong evidence of a sincere desire on the part of the US to achieve a just and honourable solution to permanently end this conflict,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote in an op-ed in the Financial Times.

Araghchi also urged Washington to return to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed in June. Under the agreement, Iran was to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while the US was to lift its naval blockade, release frozen Iranian oil funds and remove sanctions.

“If they adhere to these conditions, they should know that the Strait will be fully opened, and after that, we will hold further rounds of negotiations until a final agreement is reached,” he said in an earlier interview with Iraqi media.

Washington has shown little willingness to revive the agreement. The US has increased economic pressure on Tehran and refocused on Iran’s nuclear programme.

Brent crude prices rose above $110 a barrel on Wednesday as attacks on shipping continued to disrupt traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened fresh strikes on Iran. Iranian officials have warned of retaliation against infrastructure in Gulf Arab countries if the US attacks.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir during a visit to Tehran on Tuesday that Iran did not trust Washington.

“Our nation today does not trust the United States and believes that if we negotiate, they will attack us again,” he said.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for the elimination of Iran’s regime, while speculation over possible joint US-Israeli military action grew following US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s visit to Israel.

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