Only ‘just, fair’ talks can end war, Iran tells US

Tehran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Sunday that there is no military resolution to the US war against the Islamic Republic, asserting that negotiations grounded in "justice and fairness" alone can conclude the conflict. Should adversaries pursue a military path, Iran's response will be more forceful, Araghchi warned during a gathering of foreign ambassadors in Tehran.

"We will defend ourselves with even more force," he declared. The ongoing tensions stem from the US-Iran standoff over the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital channel for Gulf oil and gas. Iran's parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf affirmed that the crucial Strait of Hormuz would not reopen until Iran fulfills seven conditions laid out in a June interim agreement with the US.

Ghalibaf emphasized that Iran's stance on the matter is clear and resolute, stating that the strait of Hormuz will not be opened until its seven conditions, based on the Islamabad memorandum of understanding, are met. Ghalibaf also called upon Washington to comprehend that the process of prolonging the situation and imposing unilateral demands has come to an end.

Iranian and US officials engaged in indirect talks last week during the UN General Assembly, during which Tehran presented its seven conditions. These conditions encompass a Middle East ceasefire, the unfreezing of Iranian assets abroad, the lifting of sanctions on its oil sector, and the termination of the US naval blockade. U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed the proposal while leaving open the possibility of further discussions and military actions.

The US subsequently responded to Tehran's proposal last week, with Qatar facilitating messaging between the two parties in an effort to resolve the conflict and reopen the strait. Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei suggested that the latest US counterproposals were "more or less in line with their previous positions, specifically on the nuclear issue", yet Iran remains focused on Hormuz.

"We have clearly indicated that we are focusing on the issue of the Strait of Hormuz," he stated, adding that reopening the waterway necessitates an end to the disruption of Iranian maritime traffic and the removal of sanctions. Baghaei denied Iran's claim of offering UN nuclear watchdog inspections in exchange for sanctions relief, asserting that Iran has not initiated nuclear negotiations.

Despite a cease in hostilities since September 1, the US has intensified its military presence, reportedly deploying additional Patriot missile batteries to Saudi Arabia and Qatar to safeguard energy facilities, and the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group heading to the Middle East. Iran's army announced plans to upgrade the range of its missiles, further underscoring Tehran's readiness for further confrontation even as diplomacy continues to be advocated.

Separately, Iran's Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad has resigned, and Hamid Bovard, chief executive of the government-owned National Iranian Oil Company, will assume the role of acting minister, according to state media. The resignation comes amid escalating tensions between Iran and the US, which are placing pressure on Iran's economy.

Paknejad expressed confidence that the revenues from the oil sold will continue, stating "revenues of the oil that we have sold are still coming and that will continue God willing".