Negotiations to revive an interim peace agreement between Iran and the United States have yielded no progress, a senior Iranian source stated on Wednesday. The discussions, conducted via mediators, sought to re-establish a June ceasefire and define a timeline for its implementation. However, the Iranian official noted that the sides remain deadlocked, particularly regarding the status of the 60-day period originally intended to lead to a permanent resolution.
The impasse follows the rapid dissolution of a June agreement that had called for an "immediate and permanent termination of military operations." President Donald Trump declared the deal over on July 7, while the Iranian foreign ministry announced its suspension a week later. The U.S. has accused Iran of failing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while Tehran maintains that Washington failed to lift port blockades and release frozen assets as promised.
On Wednesday, President Trump stated on social media that the U.S. maintains "total control" over the Strait of Hormuz and characterized Iran as "all talk and no action." Conversely, the Persian Gulf Strait Authority, established by Iran, stated the waterway will remain blocked until its conditions are met. These statements followed new maritime incidents on Tuesday, including a suspected Houthi attack that killed four crew members in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the disabling of a cargo ship's steering gear by a U.S. Navy helicopter.
The conflict has resulted in the deaths of thousands of people, primarily in Iran and Lebanon, since military operations began on February 28. Beyond the immediate casualties, the instability affects residents in Oman, Jordan, Kuwait, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, where Iran has struck U.S. infrastructure. International shippers face increased physical risks, evidenced by Tuesday’s fatal attack on a cargo vessel in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the U.S. military’s use of Hellfire missiles to disable a Panama-flagged ship.
A resolution to the conflict would require the U.S. and Iran to agree on a final deal limiting Tehran's nuclear program and lifting U.S. sanctions. While Pakistani government sources reportedly suggested an extension of the ceasefire period was agreed upon, the Iranian source dismissed this, stating that no such extension is possible because Iran considers the original agreement to have been violated by the U.S. within days of its signing. No new dates for direct or indirect talks have been confirmed.