Khamenei warns US of further blows

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has vowed that the United States will eventually be forced out of the Middle East, while Tehran has indicated that it currently has no plans for direct negotiations with Washington.

Khamenei said the US had suffered what he described as “painful blows” and would face further pressure from Iranian forces and defenders of the Strait of Hormuz. His remarks came as diplomatic efforts continued to find a way to end the ongoing conflict.

Iran’s delegation attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York has reportedly decided against holding further direct talks with US officials. Tehran said its position had already been conveyed to Washington through Qatar, which has been acting as a mediator between the two sides.

The Iranian delegation is expected to return to Tehran on Tuesday.

Despite the lack of direct engagement, US officials said President Donald Trump was prepared to consider sanctions relief and the release of frozen Iranian funds if Tehran takes concrete steps concerning its nuclear programme.

Trump had rejected Iran’s latest proposal for ending the conflict but said talks could resume soon. He also said Washington was working through mediators and expressed confidence that the conflict would be resolved quickly.

Qatari mediators were expected to hold separate discussions with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US representatives as part of renewed diplomatic efforts. Iran’s ISNA news agency said Araghchi would discuss the latest proposals and Tehran’s conditions concerning the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has linked any reopening of the strategic waterway to several demands, including a seven-day ceasefire across the region, the release of frozen Iranian assets, sanctions relief for its oil sector and an end to the US naval blockade on Iranian ports.

Tehran has also said that negotiations on its nuclear programme could resume after the conditions are met. Araghchi said Iran was waiting for Washington to communicate its position before deciding its next move.

Meanwhile, Iran has formally protested US restrictions on its aviation sector. Iranian authorities said they had submitted complaints to international bodies, arguing that the sanctions were affecting the country’s air transport industry.

In a separate development, Iraqi Airways resumed flights between Najaf and Iranian airports. The service had been suspended amid US sanctions. A temporary US waiver is expected to allow Iraqi Airways to operate flights between Iraq and Iran for religious pilgrims for one month, with a longer-term arrangement potentially being considered.