Iran accuses US blockade of causing diplomatic stalemate

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has stated that the US and Israel will not achieve their goals through military aggression or “bullying.” In a recent comment, Ghalibaf emphasized that a full ceasefire between the two countries is unlikely to occur as long as the US naval blockade on Iranian ports persists.

Ghalibaf’s remarks came after President Donald Trump announced his intention to extend the US-Iran truce. However, Iranian officials have attributed the impasse in negotiations and the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz to the US actions. Tehran has expressed its unwillingness to submit to “bullying” by Washington.

In a social media post, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian echoed Ghalibaf’s position, stressing that diplomacy is necessary for peace talks. He stated that breach of commitments, blockade, and threats are major obstacles to genuine negotiations.

The ceasefire has so far held, despite concerns that the fighting could resume at any moment. The US president did not set a specific deadline for the extended ceasefire to expire, but he suggested on Tuesday that the naval siege on Iran would continue to serve as leverage for future talks.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt dismissed media reports claiming that Trump had set a specific deadline of three to five days for the truce. She emphasized that the US president alone decides on the timetable of the war and is “satisfied” with the blockade’s effects on the Iranian economy.

Iranian officials have expressed their readiness to return to war, but the ceasefire has appeared to hold thus far. The situation remains tense, with sanctions still in place and no new date set for talks.

Source: Al Jazeera