Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has identified the United States’ maximalist approach and other counterproductive attitudes as the primary obstacles to resolving the situation arising from what Tehran describes as unprovoked aggression against the Islamic Republic.
Araghchi made the remarks on Tuesday during a meeting in the Iranian capital with Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik, who was visiting Tehran at the head of a diplomatic delegation for consultations with Iranian officials.
The top Iranian diplomat further described Washington’s threatening and provocative rhetoric, lack of goodwill, and dishonesty as additional stumbling blocks hindering any resolution to the current crisis or the achievement of a possible agreement.
Together with the Israeli regime, the United States conducted its latest series of unlawful attacks on Iran from February 28 to April 7. US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire on April 7 amid decisive Iranian retaliation, but on April 13, he declared the continuation of an illegal blockade of Iranian vessels and ports.
US maximalist stance main obstacle to ending war: @araghchi https://t.co/42t2QKvjTr pic.twitter.com/cGORImfDZS
— IRNA News Agency ☫ (@IrnaEnglish) May 13, 2026
In response to the aggression, Iran began shutting down the strategic Strait of Hormuz to enemy nations and their allies. Tehran introduced far stricter controls following Trump’s decision to sustain the blockade. Iran has ruled out returning to negotiations as long as the US refuses to meet its conditions, which include a cessation of aggression on all fronts and the lifting of the blockade.
Araghchi also stressed that the root cause of the current situation in the Strait of Hormuz is the American-Israeli aggression, compounded by repeated violations of the ceasefire through the continued blockade.
The foreign minister added that Iran, as a littoral state of the Strait of Hormuz, is engaged in consultations and discussions to formulate regulations related to arrangements for the waterway in line with international law. These arrangements, he noted, aim to strengthen and facilitate safe passage through the strait.
For his part, the Norwegian deputy foreign minister emphasized the necessity of establishing lasting peace and stability in the region and of making efforts to safeguard international law. He also expressed his country’s readiness to assist in strengthening diplomacy, as well as consultations regarding maritime safety and environmental protection in the region.
Source: Press Tv edited by Al-manar English website