Iran is still reviewing a US response to its proposal for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and will reply to Washington through intermediaries once the review is finished, foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday.
Speaking at a press conference, Baghaei said Tehran continues to exchange messages through intermediaries, without elaborating.
Qatar and Pakistan, among others, have acted as mediators in efforts to end the war, which began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.
Iran presented its proposal in mid-September, after an interim ceasefire in June crumbled and on-off strikes resumed.
It later confirmed receipt of a US response, but the process has since stalled.
On Sunday, Iran’s security chief said Washington’s reply did not sufficiently address Tehran’s seven conditions for reopening the strait and returning to negotiations.
A central point of disagreement has been Washington’s insistence on addressing Iran’s nuclear programme from the outset.
Tehran maintains that negotiations should initially focus on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and restoring security in the waterway.
Before the war, the strait carried about a fifth of the global trade in oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Baghaei also addressed the escalating conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthis, an Iranian ally, reiterating Tehran’s openness to help resolve the crisis through dialogue.
“The issue of Yemen should have been resolved a long time ago with the (UN) roadmap and we had said we would support any agreement reached by Yemenis and Saudis … Our request is that this situation be resolved through dialogue,” he said.
