Washington cites progress in Iran talks as Tehran maintains hardline conditions

On the 76^th day of the US-Israeli war on Iran, senior American officials said negotiations with Tehran are continuing despite major disagreements over the nuclear file and the Strait of Hormuz.

US Vice President J. D. Vance said discussions with Iranian officials were progressing, noting that he had held consultations with Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff and regional partners in the Arab world.

“I believe we are making progress,” Vance said, adding that the key issue was whether negotiations had advanced enough to satisfy the “red line” set by US President Donald Trump.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington hopes to persuade China to play a more active role in pressuring Iran over developments in Gulf waters.

Iranian officials, however, reiterated their refusal to compromise on core demands.

Senior Iranian official Abdullah Haji Sadeghi said Iran’s military readiness in areas such as the Strait of Hormuz demonstrates that “if Iran is determined, no power can stand against it”.

Iranian politician Alaeddin Boroujerdi told ISNA that the current ceasefire remains “fragile and unreliable”, stressing that Tehran would not accept anything less than full implementation of its demands and would “under no circumstances” submit to American positions.

Boroujerdi also warned of the possibility of renewed clashes amid continuing regional tensions and exchanges of threats between the parties involved.

The Houthi movement similarly warned that any renewed war against Iran would “ignite the region and the world”, raising concerns over a broader regional escalation.