Iran Says U.S. Talks Are Stalled as 20% Oil Chokepoint Reopening Hinges on Progress
Updated
Updated · Reuters · May 15
Iran Says U.S. Talks Are Stalled as 20% Oil Chokepoint Reopening Hinges on Progress
11 articles · Updated · Reuters · May 15
Abbas Araqchi said Tehran has "no trust" in Washington and will negotiate only if the U.S. shows seriousness, with Pakistani-mediated peace talks now on hold.
Contradictory U.S. messages and both sides' rejection of the latest proposals last week have left the mediation effort in "difficulty," while disputes over Iran's nuclear program and control of the Strait of Hormuz remain unresolved.
Araqchi said Iran is preserving the ceasefire to give diplomacy a chance but is ready to resume fighting if talks fail.
On Hormuz, he said ships can pass if they coordinate with Iran's navy and are not "at war" with Tehran, adding traffic could normalize as negotiations advance.
The strait normally carries about one-fifth of seaborne oil and gas, and Araqchi said China—described as a strategic partner—would be welcome to help diplomacy.
Can Iran's asymmetric naval tactics outlast the U.S. blockade in the escalating war of economic attrition?
Are Iran's diplomats or its Revolutionary Guard truly controlling the nation's escalating war strategy?
After repeated diplomatic betrayals, can China succeed as a mediator where others have failed to secure peace?
The 2026 U.S.-Iran Standoff: 77 Days of Diplomatic Deadlock, Military Escalation, and Economic Shockwaves
Overview
As of May 2026, the conflict between the United States and Iran remains locked in a diplomatic stalemate, with both sides deeply distrustful and unwilling to negotiate directly. Instead, they rely on regional intermediaries like Pakistan to exchange messages, highlighting the lack of direct communication. While the U.S. claims talks are ongoing and productive, Iran denies direct negotiations and questions American consistency. Pakistan’s Prime Minister has stepped in as a mediator, but the core issues—such as control over the Strait of Hormuz and demands for sanctions relief—remain unresolved, keeping tensions high and progress stalled.