A US official revealed on Friday that the United States is conducting "positive and constructive" talks with Iran through mediators, while stressing that Washington is not rushing to reach an agreement given what he described as the strong American position in the Strait of Hormuz.
The official said in a statement to Al Arabiya channel: "We are conducting positive and constructive talks through mediators," in the latest American indication of the continuation of diplomatic channels with Tehran, coinciding with mediation efforts to reach an understanding regarding the strait and the nuclear file.
He added, "The United States is in a very strong position through its control of the Strait of Hormuz, so we are not in a hurry."
The US official revealed that 40 million barrels of oil had crossed the Strait of Hormuz in the past 48 hours, at a time when Washington is seeking to secure the movement of oil tankers through the vital waterway.
Iranian proposal awaits Trump
The statements come hours after the Axios website revealed that the United States had informed Iran during indirect talks that it does not control the Strait of Hormuz, and therefore cannot impose conditions on its reopening.
According to Axios, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi presented, during indirect talks with American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in New York, Tehran's conditions for reopening the strait and resuming nuclear talks.
The Iranian proposal included reopening Hormuz and resuming nuclear talks within a week, in exchange for the United States lifting its naval blockade, canceling sanctions imposed on Iranian oil sales, and reinstating a ceasefire in the region.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had announced that his country's latest proposal regarding the reopening of Hormuz awaits the "green light" from US President Donald Trump.
The Qatari side is participating in mediation efforts, while Axios quoted an informed source as saying that Qatar and Iran are awaiting Trump's response, and that there are "some positive moves," although it is still too early to determine the course of the talks.
Thus, the new American messages coincide with accelerating diplomatic moves, as Washington confirms the continuation of talks through mediators, but at the same time emphasizes that it is not facing a time pressure to reach an agreement, based on the field situation in Hormuz and the continued flow of oil through the strait.
