Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that military force and new sanctions offer no solution as indirect talks mediated by Qatar remain stalled, while parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf insisted that the strategic Strait of Hormuz will stay closed until seven specific demands are fulfilled.
More than seven months after the outbreak of the United States-Israeli military campaign against Iran, diplomatic efforts to reopen vital energy corridors have hit a wall. Speaking to foreign ambassadors and diplomats in Tehran, Araghchi warned that any renewed military aggression would trigger a heavier response than before, even as he maintained that his government remains open to a fair diplomatic resolution.
The diplomatic stalemate persists alongside an ongoing naval blockade. US Treasury Secretary Scott Besant announced that Iranian maritime oil exports had been brought to a complete halt, while Kpler shipping data showed Middle Eastern daily crude flow dipping to 92% of pre-war baseline levels during the final week of September.
Abbas Araghchi Outlines Diplomatic Terms While Warning of Military Readiness
Araghchi reported on a busy diplomatic push during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he and President Masoud Pezeshkian held meetings with 42 foreign ministers and roughly 10 national leaders. Central to Tehran’s UN outreach was a proposal dubbed the seven-day plan, which proposes reopening the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if accepted.
During his meeting with foreign ambassadors, the Iranian foreign minister emphasized that his country desires peace and urged Washington to choose a wise course of action.
If our enemies choose the path of military confrontation once again, our response will be stronger than before… There is no military solution nor any solution based on new sanctions… There is nothing other than negotiations built on justice and equity. Abbas
Araghchi also pressed European nations over their role in the conflict, pointing to statements from the NATO Secretary General indicating that more than 5,000 American fighters launched attacks on Iran from bases located in Europe.
Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf Links Strait of Hormuz Closure to Seven Conditions
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf adopted a hardline stance in Tehran, declaring that the era of dictating unilateral demands has ended. Addressing lawmakers, Qalibaf asserted that the Strait of Hormuz will remain sealed until seven strict conditions derived from the Islamabad memorandum of understanding are met.
According to reports citing Iranian sources, those prerequisites include lifting the American naval blockade, releasing frozen overseas assets, removing sanctions on oil exports, and halting hostile military actions. Qalibaf further noted that Iran will not mortgage its national security to statements or tweets issued by American officials.
The Americans, who say one thing in the media, recently put forward proposals through an intermediary. But they must realize that the phase of procrastination and imposing unilateral demands has ended. Mohammad
Qalibaf dismissed recent indirect proposals transmitted by Qatari intermediaries as insufficient, emphasizing that security policy will be guided by ground realities rather than conflicting public remarks. He described the shifting American rhetoric between military threats and claims of a desire for negotiations as an attempt to mislead public opinion and confuse Iranian decision-making.
Donald Trump Rejects Iranian Terms as Indirect Mediation Continues
Washington has pushed back against Tehran’s sequencing. US President Donald Trump rejected the latest Iranian proposal for reopening the waterway and resuming peace talks within a seven-day window. Trump argued that Iran had overestimated its leverage, stating that the leadership lacks financial resources and naval or air capabilities while the US maintains total control over the strait.
Despite the deadlock, negotiations continue through Qatari channels. A source familiar with the talks noted that the circulating diplomatic text envisions a seven-day implementation period designed to restore an enhanced version of the Islamabad agreement originally signed in June 2026. While that framework touches on Iran’s nuclear program, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei insisted that the nuclear file is not up for debate in the current phase, maintaining that the immediate priority is restoring security to the strait.
