Iranian Military Says "No Agreement Yet on Second Talks"... Puts Brakes on Strait of Hormuz Reopening Announcement

Trump Maintains Counter-Blockade on Iranian Waters
Iranian Military Criticizes Minister Araghchi

Oil tanker passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News Agency

The Iranian military has pushed back against Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's announcement that the Strait of Hormuz would be temporarily reopened, stressing that the United States and Iran have not yet agreed to a second round of negotiations.

On April 18 (local time), Tasnim News Agency in Iran reported, citing sources, "Due to U.S. President Donald Trump's maritime blockade against Iran and the excessive demands revealed in the negotiations where messages have been exchanged until recently, Iran has not agreed to the next round of talks for the time being."

The outlet continued, "Iran emphasized that the main condition for continuing negotiations is that the United States refrain from excessive demands," adding, "Otherwise, Iran will not waste time on negotiations that drag on meaninglessly."

It also added that this position had been conveyed to U.S. officials through Pakistan, which is acting as a mediator.

Subsequently, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh also attended the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF) held in Turkiye that day and told reporters, "We cannot set a date for the (second round of negotiations) until we reach a consensus on the framework of the agreement."

Previously, U.S. media outlets such as the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that there was a high possibility that the second round of talks would be held in Pakistan on April 20. U.S. President Donald Trump also told reporters at the White House that the talks could take place this weekend, expressing optimism that the negotiations would be concluded quickly.

The Iranian military's hardline stance appears to be based on the assessment that reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a key bargaining chip, has given the United States a pretext to attack Iran.

On the previous day, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on the social media platform X, announcing that, for the remainder of the ceasefire period, the Strait of Hormuz would be fully reopened exclusively for merchant vessels. In response, President Trump, immediately after Minister Araghchi's post, said "Thank you" but also declared that the counter-blockade on Iranian maritime routes would continue.

President Trump further claimed that Iran had pledged never to block the Strait of Hormuz again and that the United States would take possession of enriched uranium, prompting Iran to hurriedly deny such statements.

Iran's Fars News Agency strongly criticized the situation, stating, "The foreign minister's unexpected post and Trump's anxious bluster erupted simultaneously, plunging Iranian society into a fog of confusion."

Mehr News Agency also pointed out, "After the foreign minister's post, there was a sharp increase in contacts between Trump and the media, with the president now boasting of achievements he did not even claim during the height of the war, in an attempt to declare victory and flaunt his success."

The outlet further criticized, "Reopening the Strait of Hormuz was the most troublesome issue for Trump, and the foreign minister's post, lacking additional explanation, ended up providing Trump with the perfect opportunity to claim himself as the 'victor' and sound the drum of triumph."

The outlet continued, "Since it is clear that negotiations are not being conducted by the foreign ministry alone, the decisions made by the whole team must be explained in a unified manner, and the response plan to the reactions of unethical opportunists like Trump must be thorough."

As such criticism mounted, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson clarified that the decision to reopen the Strait of Hormuz "was not the sole decision of the Foreign Ministry, but one based on Iran's decision-making system, made in accordance with the promise of the April 8 ceasefire agreement," adding, "If the other party breaks the agreement, Iran will take corresponding necessary measures."

In response, the U.S. think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) commented, "Media outlets affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps criticized that Minister Araghchi's post gave President Trump the opportunity to shape public opinion regarding the Strait of Hormuz."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.