Iran denies talks with US, says Hormuz will stay shut until demands are met

Mohsen Rezaei’s comments come as the IRGC said at least three ships had hit mines and caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s security chief Mohsen Rezaei has said that Tehran is waiting for a response from the United States on its seven conditions for peace talks, while dismissing speculation about holding any negotiations with Washington.

Rezaei’s comments on Tuesday came as hopes grow for a diplomatic breakthrough in the US and Israel’s war on Iran after US President Donald Trump said that he saw “positive momentum” towards ending the conflict. Trump, who held talks with Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani at the White House on Monday , also said that new attacks on Iran were unnecessary.

Qatar is a key mediator in the conflict. Rezaei told Lebanon’s Al Mayadeen TV on Tuesday that claims “about continuing negotiations or holding a meeting in Qatar is a pure lie”, saying that Washington was talking up negotiations to ease economic pressure and bring down oil prices.