Iran tells US there is no military solution to Middle East war

Iran's top diplomat warned on Sunday that there would be no military solution to the United States' war against Iran, as ongoing talks seemed stuck. Despite a recent campaign of heavy bombardment failing to bring the conflict to a decisive end, Washington has scaled back its military operations in favor of economic pressure. The main sticking point remains Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial artery for Gulf oil and gas where a UK maritime agency reported on Sunday that another tanker was hit by an unidentified projectile.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared at a foreign diplomats' gathering that if enemies opted for military confrontation, Iran would respond with even greater force, insisting "there is no military solution, nor any solution based on new sanctions." He added that only negotiations grounded in justice and fairness could end the conflict.

The two parties had previously agreed on a memorandum of understanding in June outlining a framework for a permanent resolution, but Iranian assaults on vessels in Hormuz prompted a resurgence in US military operations. Iran has been attempting to assert control over the strategic shipping lane since the war's inception, targeting ships that fail to seek its authorization.

The US has countered with its own blockade of Iranian ports and strikes on vessels it believes have violated it. On Sunday, the UK maritime security agency UKMTO reported a tanker in the Hormuz had been struck by an unknown projectile, though the crew was safe and no environmental damage was recorded. The incident, which date, vessel origin and destination, and whether it involved an oil tanker or LNG carrier was not disclosed, came as Iran grapples with growing fuel shortages amid the Middle East war.

Iran's oil minister Mohsen Paknejad resigned, with President Trump's office appointing Hamid Bovard, CEO of the National Iranian Oil Company, as acting Minister of Oil. Iranian and US officials recently held indirect talks on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, where Tehran presented seven conditions for reopening the strait, including a Middle East ceasefire, unfreezing of Iranian assets abroad, lifting sanctions on its oil sector, and the removal of the US naval blockade.

However, US President Donald Trump dismissed the proposal while leaving open the possibility of further talks or renewed military action. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on Sunday that the US had communicated its views on the proposal, which the Iranians were currently reviewing. "The Americans, through intermediaries, have conveyed their views on this proposal, and these views are currently being examined inside the country through the relevant channels and procedures," he told reporters.

The United States and Israel maintain their war is necessary to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, despite Iran denying pursuing such a goal. Focus soon shifted to reopening the Hormuz after its closure caused global energy markets to tremble. The US has not targeted Iran since September 1, but has recently intensified military buildup in the region.

Recent reports indicated top Trump cabinet members met on Friday to discuss the war in Iran and the Yemen conflict, where Houthi rebels backed by Tehran were battling government forces and attacking Saudi Arabia.