The fragile diplomatic opening between the United States and Iran faced renewed uncertainty on Monday after Tehran signaled it was still open to talks, but only under conditions it considers acceptable.
The latest remarks from senior Iranian officials came as military tensions intensified around the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway central to global energy supplies.
Iranian lawmaker Ebrahim Azizi, who heads the parliament’s National Security Committee, said Tehran was prepared to continue discussions with Washington, but “not at any cost.”
His comments reflected a broader message from Iranian leaders that negotiations cannot proceed while military pressure and maritime restrictions remain in place.
The statement follows Iran’s decision to refuse participation in a planned second round of ceasefire discussions with the United States.
Iranian officials accused Washington of making excessive demands, shifting positions repeatedly, and maintaining a naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz.
Diplomacy stalls as distrust deepens
The latest exchange highlights the deep mistrust that continues to define relations between Washington and Tehran.
While both sides have publicly indicated interest in reducing tensions, the gap between their demands remains wide.
Iranian officials argue that diplomacy cannot succeed under threats of force or economic coercion.
Several senior representatives described the current US approach as contradictory, saying Washington cannot pursue negotiations while simultaneously increasing military pressure in the Gulf.
Iran’s foreign minister reportedly conveyed similar concerns in calls with regional counterparts, including Pakistan.
Tehran has also emphasized that any future process must begin with confidence building measures and respect for existing ceasefire understandings.
For the United States, restoring maritime security and curbing Iranian military capabilities remain central priorities.
That difference in priorities has made even preliminary talks difficult.
Strait of Hormuz emerges as the crisis center
Much of the current confrontation is focused on the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most vital shipping corridors.
A significant share of global crude oil and liquefied gas exports pass through the narrow passage linking the Gulf to international markets.
Recent days have seen competing claims over incidents involving commercial shipping.
The US military said its forces intercepted and boarded an Iranian flagged cargo vessel after repeated warnings were ignored during a six hour standoff.
Iranian media, however, offered a sharply different version, claiming Iranian naval forces prevented an attempted seizure and forced US units to withdraw.
Iran later accused the United States of violating the ceasefire by firing on one of its commercial ships in the Gulf of Oman.
Tehran warned that retaliation would follow.
Despite the tensions, Iran’s ambassador to Moscow said shipping traffic through Hormuz remains safe under a new legal and security framework.
He insisted vessels continue to pass through the channel under Iranian oversight.
Oil prices surge on fears of supply disruption
Markets reacted quickly to the uncertainty.
US crude prices rose more than 6 percent, while Brent crude climbed above $96 per barrel as traders assessed the risk of wider disruption.
Energy markets are highly sensitive to developments in Hormuz because any interruption in tanker traffic can tighten supply and increase transport costs worldwide.
Even the perception of danger in the strait often triggers price spikes.
Shipping data also showed continued movement through the corridor, with more than 20 vessels crossing on Saturday.
Cargoes included crude oil, refined fuels, liquefied petroleum gas, fertilizer and petrochemicals bound for destinations across Asia, Europe and Africa.
Among the ships reported in transit were tankers carrying Saudi crude to Taiwan, UAE naphtha to South Korea, LPG cargoes toward China and India, and refined products heading to Thailand and Mozambique.
Regional diplomacy intensifies
As the standoff widened, regional powers stepped up diplomatic contacts.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a phone call with Masoud Pezeshkian to discuss the evolving crisis.
Sharif also briefed Tehran on Pakistan’s recent conversations with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey.
Pakistan has increasingly positioned itself as a potential channel for dialogue at a time when direct US Iran communication remains politically difficult.
Elsewhere, Spain said it would urge the European Union to review its agreement with Israel over alleged violations of international law, showing how the broader conflict is influencing diplomacy far beyond the Gulf.
Internal pressure rises inside Iran
Domestic tensions also remain visible inside Iran.
State media reported pro government rallies in Tehran, where crowds voiced distrust of the United States and support for a firm national response.
Separately, Iranian authorities announced the execution of two men convicted of working with Mossad and plotting attacks inside the country.
The move underscored how security concerns are intensifying amid the regional confrontation.
Iran has also said it is accelerating the replenishment of missile and drone launch systems, suggesting that military preparedness continues even as diplomatic messaging remains active.
What happens next
The immediate question is whether both sides can restore a path to negotiation before another major incident at sea or on land triggers wider escalation.
Iran’s message that talks can continue, but not under pressure, leaves the door open.
Yet the presence of naval forces, accusations of ceasefire breaches, and growing economic pressure from oil volatility all make compromise harder.
For global markets, the focus will remain on the Strait of Hormuz.
For diplomats, the challenge is preventing a shipping crisis from turning into a broader regional war.
For now, the conflict sits at a dangerous crossroads where diplomacy still exists, but only narrowly.