Tehran said there are no discussions on extending the ceasefire as disputes over the Strait of Hormuz, US sanctions, port blockade and war reparations continue to stall negotiations
Iran on Wednesday rejected claims that Tehran and Washington are making headway towards extending their ceasefire and accused US of failing to honour an earlier understanding.
According to a Reuters report, citing a senior Iranian source, there had been “absolutely been no progress on this issue,” underscoring the widening gap between the positions of Tehran and Washington.
According to the source, one of the matters being discussed is whether the US could return to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reached between the two sides and establish a timeline for carrying out its commitments.
Tehran, however, remains deeply distrustful of Washington’s intentions.
The Iranian source accused the US of violating the agreement almost immediately after it was reached, saying Washington “violated the interim pact 48 hours after it was reached and withdrew from it a few days later.”
Iran has also rejected the suggestion that the existing ceasefire could simply be extended.
“From Iran’s perspective, there is no ceasefire start date, therefore nothing to extend,” Reuters quoted the senior Iranian source as saying.
A second senior Iranian source separately told Reuters that “there are no discussions over extending ceasefire between Iran and US”
The comments highlight the fragile state of diplomacy between Tehran and Washington as negotiations over ending the conflict and reopening the Strait of Hormuz remain deadlocked.
US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, has adopted a tougher position on the strategically important waterway, claiming that the US has “total control” over the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump has repeatedly warned Iran against interfering with commercial shipping in the strait, while US naval forces continue to exert pressure on Tehran.
The waterway is a crucial global trade route, and the confrontation over its reopening has emerged as one of the biggest obstacles to a broader settlement.
Trump’s new demands
Trump has also introduced new demands into any potential peace negotiations.
Earlier this week, he said Washington would seek compensation from Iran for the conflict, pointing to attacks and killings over several decades that he has attributed to Tehran or Iranian-backed groups.
The demand comes as negotiations aimed at ending hostilities and securing the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz have failed to produce a breakthrough.
Tehran has insisted that US payment of war reparations should be among the conditions for resolving the conflict.
Iran has also demanded that Washington lift its blockade of Iranian ports and remove sanctions targeting the country’s oil industry before agreeing to reopen the waterway.
The latest developments reflect a pattern of alternating threats and diplomatic signals from Trump.
Last week, the US president threatened to hit Iran “very hard”, including potentially targeting civilian infrastructure, before subsequently suggesting that a diplomatic agreement could be within reach.
Trump later adopted a more restrained tone, saying he was “low-keying” his approach to the conflict. His remarks suggested that Washington could rely more heavily on economic pressure rather than immediately launching additional military strikes.
According to Axios, Trump did not express frustration with Iran’s delays over an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz during an interview published on Sunday.
However, Tehran’s latest comments indicate that major differences remain unresolved. Iran’s refusal to recognise a formal ceasefire timeline, its demand for an end to the US blockade and sanctions, and Washington’s insistence on compensation have all complicated efforts to revive negotiations.
The standoff over the Strait of Hormuz has also begun to have wider economic consequences. The blockage of the waterway by Iran has contributed to a sharp rise in fuel prices and increased concerns across global markets.
The economic fallout could add to political pressure on Trump as the US heads towards midterm elections in November, increasing the stakes for Washington to find a solution while maintaining its pressure on Tehran.
For now, however, Iran’s insistence that there has been no progress and the absence of talks on extending the ceasefire point to a diplomatic process that remains firmly stuck.
With inputs from agencies
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