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Iran has ruled out the possibility of immediate talks with the United States as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East enters its 11th day.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said negotiations with Washington were no longer under consideration, citing what he described as Tehran’s “very bitter experience” from previous diplomatic engagements with the US.
The conflict began after the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran on February 28, an operation that reportedly killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and sparked a wider regional confrontation.
The attacks came just two days before scheduled diplomatic talks between Washington and Tehran, which had followed three earlier rounds of negotiations. Mediators from Oman, who facilitated the discussions, had earlier indicated that meaningful progress had been made.
Since the outbreak of the war, Iran has retaliated with drone and missile attacks targeting Israel and US interests across the region.
The conflict has also disrupted global energy supply routes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic shipping corridor through which about 20 percent of the world’s crude oil supply normally passes. Reports indicate that Iranian forces have repeatedly targeted oil tankers navigating the route since hostilities began.
Speaking during an interview with PBS News, Araghchi maintained that Iran’s actions were carried out in self-defence, warning that missile strikes could continue for as long as necessary.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to end the conflict appear to be intensifying. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi revealed that several countries have initiated contact with Tehran in an attempt to broker a ceasefire.
He noted that China, Russia, France, and some regional nations are engaging with Iran to explore ways of halting the war.
French President Emmanuel Macron also disclosed that France and its allies are considering a “defensive mission” to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and ensure safe passage for international shipping.
Iranian officials insist that the country did not initiate the conflict and maintains that its military actions are purely defensive.
AFP
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