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Abbas Araghchi calls for renewed U.S.-Iran diplomacy as the administration shifts focus to economic pressure and the Strait of Hormuz remains contested.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has signaled a willingness to return to diplomatic negotiations with the United States, provided Washington acknowledges that its current pressure campaign is effective. As the war with Iran enters its sixth month, the administration announced a shift toward "economic asphyxiation" to weaken Tehran's regime. While the administration's strategy involves a naval blockade and tightening sanctions, Iran has responded by calling the U.S. actions "state terrorism" and demanding that the U.S. build trust and respect Iranian sovereignty. Simultaneously, mediators from Qatar and Pakistan are working to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway that handles a significant portion of global oil supplies. While the administration's military forces have cleared the sea mines laid by Iran, many commercial vessels remain hesitant to transit the waterway due to ongoing Iranian threats. To resolve the stalemate, Iran is preparing a list of conditions for reopening the strait, which may include an end to the U.S. blockade and the removal of sanctions. The administration continues to push for economic isolation of Iran, while China remains a key trade partner that has yet to agree to join the U.S. sanctions regime.

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