Iran withdraws from negotiations with the US and promises to respond to military attacks

The spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Esmaeil Baghaei, declared this Wednesday (15.Jul.2026) that the country is focused exclusively on defending its territory. According to Baghaei, there are no plans to negotiate with the United States and its attacks will be responded to “firmly”.

Tehran’s position comes after the US Army attacked the Iranian island of Hengam, near the Strait of Hormuz, and carried out bombings in the south of the country. In retaliation, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reached US military targets in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan.

The impasse in the region intensified after Tehran blocked the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20% of the oil and gas traded globally before the start of the conflict passed daily. The Revolutionary Guard threatened extend the blockade to other energy corridors, such as the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, in the passage between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, through the Houthis in Yemen. In response, the US government resumed the naval blockade of Iranian ports.

US President Donald Trump announced this Wednesday (15.Jul) the withdrawal of charging a 20% tax on cargo from ships crossing Hormuz. The plan had been released by him on Monday (13.Jul.2026). Trump said he would replace the tariff with trade and investment agreements with the Gulf States.

Iranian authorities claim that the US strikes killed at least 30 civilians and injured another 260. The Iranian Ministry of Health estimates that, in July alone, 35 people died and 300 were injured. The greatest damage is concentrated in the provinces of Hormozgan, Sistan and Baluchestan, and Khuzestan.

According to Baghaei, Iran will no longer comply with the Memorandum of Understanding, mediated by Pakistan, if the US government fails to comply with the agreement. The spokesperson said that the country will adopt the principle of reciprocity in negotiations.