Iran Asserts US Does Not Dictate Timing of War and Peace

The Iranian government has asserted that it will not allow the United States to dictate when the two countries should go to war or make peace. The statement emerged amid a four-night lull in hostilities that has raised hopes for the success of Qatari and Pakistani-led mediation to revive a collapsed interim agreement. “We will not allow the United States to determine the time of war and peace,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stressed during a weekly press briefing on Monday (27/7/2026). Baghaei stated that any decision regarding future negotiations would be based entirely on Iran’s national interests. He also emphasised that Tehran would continue to defend itself for as long as necessary. While acknowledging that an exchange of messages between Tehran and Washington is still ongoing, Baghaei said US military actions undermine the conditions for meaningful negotiations. On the other side, US President Donald Trump claimed that Iran has requested talks, both through intermediaries and directly. Trump assessed that Tehran’s willingness to negotiate is a result of massive military pressure. “We are having in-depth talks with Iran,” Trump told reporters. However, he issued a stern warning: “If these talks fail, we will return to large-scale military operations.” Trump added that he responded positively to mediators’ requests to give diplomacy a chance, but he stressed he would not allow talks to drag on indefinitely. Despite renewed diplomatic efforts, the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz remains a critical unresolved point. The strategic waterway, through which a fifth of the world’s oil and gas trade passes, has remained closed by Iran since the war began on 28 February. Baghaei stated that talks with Oman regarding the management of the strait are continuing, but he emphasised that the matter is bilateral and does not involve the US. Meanwhile, tensions at sea continue to rise, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reportedly intercepting six vessels attempting to cross unofficial routes. The US Central Command (Centcom) reported it has diverted 17 commercial ships and detained two others to enforce maritime restrictions.