America and Iran... Negotiations Continue Amid Threats

Amid a foggy scene marked by mutual defiance, data indicate that talks between the United States and Iran, conducted through intermediaries, are continuing without high hopes for a breakthrough, as both sides remain entrenched in their positions.

Following his rejection of Iran’s seven-day ceasefire plan, President Donald Trump, in comments cited by Axios, predicted that American negotiators would hold a new round of talks with Iran during the current week. He added, “They want to reach an agreement (with Iran), but this is not the agreement I want. This is something we might have agreed to a year ago. They have overestimated their confidence in their position.”

When asked whether he was considering resuming U.S. attacks on Iran, Trump said, “I’m always thinking about that.”

He noted that the largest volume of oil since the start of the war had passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the past 72 hours, reaching “more than 20 million barrels.”

Speaking to reporters in the White House South Lawn, Trump stated that “once the war ends, which is imminent, oil prices will collapse, and all prices will drop.”

Axios cited two regional sources saying that another round of indirect talks between Tehran and Washington could begin on Monday.

Qatari mediators are also continuing efforts to bridge the positions of the two sides. According to Axios, they are expected to meet separately with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff starting today.

In this context, Al Jazeera Net, citing sources in Tehran, confirmed that indirect talks are still ongoing between Iranians and Americans in New York, and that Araghchi remains there, potentially paving the way for developments in the coming days.

For his part, Araghchi said Iran had received an “initial reaction” from the U.S. President regarding the seven-day plan to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but it had not yet received a response through intermediaries.

He continued, “Our conditions are clear, and any step toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz is conditional on meeting these conditions,” adding, “The negotiated solution alone can get them out of this predicament, and we are as ready to negotiate as we are to face any aggression, even if it leads to a devastating war.”

In an interview with NBC, Araghchi said, “The steps required to reopen the Strait of Hormuz are not new nor born of nothing; they are our rights, which we demand be respected.” He added, “We want to end the aggressive war that started eight months ago and put a stop to it, and we demand the release of our funds and assets that have been illegally frozen.”