Iran blames US for Hormuz dispute as both sides confirm ongoing talks

Iran has accused the United States of trying to force open a new route through the Strait of Hormuz, bypassing Iranian authorities, a move it says violates the two countries' interim peace deal and caused tensions there to spike. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made the remarks in an interview published by Iranian media on Saturday, saying the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in June gives Tehran the right to set transit routes and mechanisms for the strategic waterway. Araghchi said Washington should have consulted with Tehran regarding any new routes. Al Jazeera's Resul Serdar, reporting from Tehran, said there had been 'no direct attacks' by the US on major Iranian cities overnight on Saturday, a break from nearly two straight weeks of nightly strikes. 'Iran had a peaceful night,' Iran's health ministry spokesperson, Hossein Kermanpour, said in a post on X. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump appeared to soften on an earlier threat to carry out new 'massive' attacks on Iran, saying that may no longer be necessary. 'They [Iranian officials] are talking to us right now; they'd love to make a deal,' Trump said on Friday night. 'I don't think they're ready to... but I'm willing to listen.' Iranian officials have confirmed to Al Jazeera that the US and Iran are exchanging messages. 'There have been proposals conveyed by the mediators, and Tehran is still reviewing them,' said Serdar. However, he said there is 'not much progress yet', citing 'fundamental differences' in their positions and deep 'mistrust'. Former Austrian Defence Attache Wolfgang Pusztai said the US is using all forms of strategy with Iran. 'There is some kind of hot and cold approach in order to facilitate the wish, the desire of the Iranians to achieve an end to the whole war. So one night they are bombarded, one night they are not bombarded.'