Tehran has accused Washington of leveling “excessive demands” during high-stakes negotiations, Iranian state media reported on Saturday, amid mounting speculation of renewed American military action as the Islamic Republic weighs the latest peace proposal.
The diplomatic standoff has reached a critical juncture. Pakistan’s powerful army chief arrived in Tehran on Friday to bolster mediation efforts, while US President Donald Trump abruptly canceled plans to attend his son’s wedding, choosing instead to remain in Washington due to “circumstances pertaining to government.”
Trump characterized the volatile, stop-start negotiations as teetering on the edge of either fresh military strikes or a breakthrough agreement to end the conflict. The war erupted on February 28 following joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran, subsequently triggering retaliatory blockades around the strategic Strait of Hormuz that have severely disrupted the global economy.
Despite weeks of negotiations following an April 8 ceasefire—including historic, face-to-face talks hosted by Islamabad—a permanent resolution has remained elusive. The continued restrictions surrounding the strait have choked off massive quantities of the global oil supply.
In a phone call with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reaffirmed Tehran’s participation in the diplomatic process but sharply criticized Washington’s approach.
“…repeated betrayals of diplomacy and military aggression against Iran, along with contradictory positions and repeated excessive demands,” Araghchi said, according to a statement from the Iranian foreign ministry.
The tension has been further heightened by US media outlets Axios and CBS News, which reported that the White House is actively mulling fresh strikes on Iran, though unnamed sources noted that a final decision has not yet been rendered.
American officials have consistently warned of renewed military action if diplomatic channels fail. Speaking on the sidelines of a NATO conference in Sweden, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that while there has been “some progress” toward a peaceful resolution, a final agreement remains out of reach.
”We’re dealing with a very difficult group of people. And if it doesn’t change, then the president’s been clear he has other options,” Rubio warned.
As the threat of escalation looms, regional mediators have intensified their efforts. Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, landed in Tehran on Friday for late-night talks with Araghchi to discuss “the latest diplomatic efforts and initiatives aimed at preventing further escalation,” according to Iran’s official IRNA news agency.
However, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei downplayed expectations, telling the ISNA news agency that Munir’s visit does not signify that negotiators “have reached a turning point or a decisive situation,” citing “deep and extensive” disagreements that still separate the two sides.
Baqaei also confirmed that a diplomatic delegation from Qatar held talks with Araghchi on Friday, underscoring the broader international push for peace.
”In recent days, many countries — both regional and non-regional — have been trying to help bring the war to an end … However, Pakistan remains the official mediator,” Baqaei stated.
Furthering those mediation efforts, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar have embarked on a four-day official visit to China—Iran’s primary trading partner—where resolving the Middle East crisis is expected to top the agenda.