Iran's top security official Mohsen Rezaei has stated that Tehran is awaiting a response from the United States regarding its seven conditions for peace talks, dismissing rumors of negotiations with Washington. This statement comes amidst growing hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough in the US and Israel's conflict with Iran, following President Donald Trump's comments about seeing "positive momentum" towards ending the conflict.
On Tuesday, Rezaei told Lebanon’s Al Mayadeen TV that any speculation about continuing negotiations or holding meetings in Qatar is a lie. He suggested that the US was promoting talks to alleviate economic pressure and lower oil prices, but the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the U.S. meets Iran's conditions. The exact list of conditions has not been disclosed, but they are said to include lifting sanctions and the naval blockade, ending hostilities on all fronts, especially Israel's attacks on Lebanon, among others.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has stated that if these demands are met, the Strait of Hormuz could reopen within two days. He emphasized that the conflict with Iran cannot be resolved through military means or intensified sanctions. Instead, he advocated for a diplomatic approach and addressing Iran's demands and conditions, as outlined in a two-day proposal that remains on the table.
The war, now in its ninth month, has disrupted global markets and oil supplies, causing prices to rise worldwide. Diplomats from Saudi Arabia, France, and top European nations met in Paris to discuss the Iran crisis and its security and economic implications. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Washington is "open to diplomacy" but reiterated Trump's position that further military action is unnecessary if objectives can be achieved through economic means.
Meanwhile, attacks on vessels continued in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that three oil tankers caught fire after striking naval mines while transiting an unauthorized route in the eastern part of the strait. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency reported incidents involving two tankers in the region, with one being struck by an unknown projectile northeast of Oman’s Lima village. These attacks come after at least 37 ship attacks were reported in November, marking the highest monthly total for such incidents since the start of the war.