WASHINGTON — The United States has warned that reaching a peace agreement with Iran remains extremely difficult as tensions escalate over attacks on commercial shipping in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington would maintain economic pressure on Tehran until it stops targeting commercial vessels in the vital shipping corridor.
The Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil shipments, has become a major flashpoint in the confrontation between the two countries.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the waterway would remain closed until Washington accepts Tehran’s conditions. He added that indirect negotiations were continuing through Pakistan and Qatar in an effort to resolve the crisis.
Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that Washington remained prepared to take further military action against Iran.
Hegseth said the United States was determined to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons, declaring: “We want to make sure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon.”
The conflicting positions underscore the challenges facing diplomatic efforts, with Washington insisting on continued pressure and Iran demanding that its conditions be met.
With tensions over maritime security, economic sanctions and Iran’s nuclear ambitions continuing to dominate relations, the prospects for a negotiated settlement remain uncertain.
