Iran says mediation with US halted after American election results
Iran's foreign minister says mediation efforts with the US have stalled following the Democrats' major victory in the US Congress elections.
Key Takeaways
AIIranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced on Sunday that mediation efforts aimed at reaching an agreement between Tehran and Washington have stopped in recent days, attributing the pause to the impact of the US election results, which saw a significant victory for the Democrats in Congress.
In remarks to Iranian state television, Araghchi said the election outcome had shocked the parties involved. He added that resuming mediation efforts would require some time until conditions become suitable, urging patience until it becomes clear how the parties will respond to the new developments.
The foreign minister noted that Iran is waiting to see how long it will take for the relevant parties to absorb the election results before determining the next steps in the negotiation process.
Araghchi's comments come amid intense diplomatic activity to avoid a resumption of military operations, after the United States threatened large-scale strikes against Iran, despite President Donald Trump's statements about progress in talks to end the war that began last February with US and Israeli attacks on Iranian territory.
Since the outbreak of the conflict, Tehran has restricted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for about one-fifth of the world's oil supply. In response, Washington imposed a blockade on Iranian ports and began escorting oil tankers through the strait.
In a post on X, Araghchi said American voters had made their choice and that it was now time for the White House to decide. He called on Washington to accept Iran's demands or choose war, warning that Iranian forces are ready to respond.
Last September, Tehran proposed an initiative to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days, which included demands to end the war on all fronts, release frozen Iranian assets, lift sanctions on oil exports, and end the US blockade of Iranian ports.
Iran later suggested implementing the initiative within just two days, a proposal Araghchi reiterated in his latest post.