US can't dictate timing of war and peace, says Iran as Trump halts strikes

Iran said it will decide on war, peace and diplomacy on its own after the United States paused fresh strikes. Tehran also ruled out direct talks with Washington as regional attacks and Strait of Hormuz tensions continued.

In Short

• Baghaei said Iran would shape decisions strictly around national interests
• Tehran said messages from Washington are being passed only through mediators
• Iran and Oman held talks on passage through Hormuz waters

A pause in air strikes has not translated into a thaw in tensions across the Middle East. Iran on Monday made clear that decisions on war, peace and diplomacy would remain its own, saying Washington has no authority to determine the country's course despite growing calls for de-escalation.

Speaking at his weekly press briefing, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Iran would continue to determine its own course based on national interests and would not allow outside powers to shape its security decisions.

"We have never allowed, and we will never allow the United States to determine when there is war or peace. We will defend ourselves whenever our interests require it, whenever our circumstances require it. Whenever we believe we can use diplomacy as a tool to safeguard our national interests, we will certainly use it as such," he said.

His remarks came days after reports said President Donald Trump had directed the US military to suspend fresh strikes on Iran, pausing nearly two weeks of daily attacks that had triggered retaliatory Iranian strikes on US military bases and assets across the region.

NO DIRECT TALKS WITH WASHINGTON

Baghaei dismissed speculation that Tehran had sought renewed negotiations with Washington, insisting that no direct talks were currently taking place.

He said communication between the two countries continued only through mediators.

"Mediators may convey messages from the American side to us regarding the current developments in the region, but at present we have no negotiations with the American side."

While Washington has said the pause in military operations is intended to create space for diplomacy, Tehran has repeatedly denied that it is seeking negotiations under military pressure.

TALKS WITH OMAN FOCUS ON STRAIT OF HORMUZ

Even as direct engagement with the US remains frozen, Iran confirmed it has been holding discussions with neighbouring Oman on managing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's busiest energy corridors.

Baghaei described the latest round of discussions as constructive.

"These are negotiations between Iran and Oman. Several rounds of negotiations were held on Friday and Saturday. They were useful negotiations on how to manage the passage of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The objective is for Iran and Oman, as two coastal states, to formulate mechanisms."

The talks come after weeks of heightened tensions in the strategic waterway, where disputes over shipping routes have become a major source of friction between Tehran and Washington.

Iran has insisted that vessels should use routes under its supervision, while the US has continued to advocate alternative navigation routes close to Oman's coastline.

MIDDLE EAST REMAINS ON EDGE

Although the US has paused its military campaign, the wider region continues to witness fresh attacks.

On Monday, Saudi Arabia said it intercepted drones targeting oil infrastructure in the kingdom, alleging they had been launched by Iran-backed militias in Iraq. Separately, Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis said they targeted sensitive crude oil supply and transport infrastructure linking eastern Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the attack was carried out in response to what he described as Saudi drone incursions into Yemeni airspace.

Jordan also reported shooting down two drones, while Iraqi security sources said camps housing Iranian Kurdish opposition groups in northern Iraq had come under drone attack.

- Ends
With inputs from agencies