The language of distrust echoed across the conference halls of New Delhi on Friday, as Iran’s top diplomat delivered a stark assessment of the state of play between Tehran and Washington. With the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting underway, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi issued a blunt reminder to the international community: the ceasefire that has paused the 11 week old war is merely a pause, and the road to a lasting peace is blocked by a chasm of mistrust.
“We have no trust in the Americans,” Araghchi told reporters. “Iran has every reason not to trust the US, while Americans have every reason to trust us.” This asymmetry, he argued, is the true obstacle to diplomacy. Washington, after failing to achieve its battlefield objectives, has now pivoted to dialogue, a move Tehran views with deep‑seated skepticism.
The Iranian foreign minister revealed that the US has sent “messages again” expressing a willingness to continue talks, even after President Trump publicly dismissed Tehran’s recent proposal as a “piece of garbage.” Yet, for all the gestures, Araghchi maintained that the “contradictory messages” emanating from the White House have only reinforced Tehran’s reluctance. The mediation process led by Pakistan, he conceded, has not failed but is in “difficulty,” burdened by the weight of American inconsistency.
A key pillar of Iran’s position remains the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately one‑fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply passed before the war. Araghchi clarified on Friday that the waterway is “open to all vessels, with the exception of those belonging to nations in conflict with Iran.”
The situation in the strait, the foreign minister added, remains “very complicated.” While the ceasefire has held since April 8, the de‑facto Iranian blockade continues, a direct response to the US‑led military coalition’s presence in the Gulf. Iran has repeatedly insisted that it will not cede control of the waterway, a vital artery for global energy without a binding guarantee that hostilities will not resume. Washington’s “Project Freedom,” a naval mission to guide stranded vessels through the strait, has only deepened tensions. Araghchi has previously dismissed the initiative as “Project Deadlock,” and on the ground, the US operation has failed to secure any significant resumption of commercial shipping. According to shipping analysts, only a handful of vessels have managed to transit, most with their trackers switched off to avoid Iranian detection.
Behind the public brinkmanship over shipping lanes and blockades lies the far more complex issue of Iran’s nuclear programme. On this front, Araghchi reiterated that “Iran has never wanted nuclear weapons,” pointing to Tehran’s signature on the 2015 nuclear deal as proof of its peaceful intentions. While the nuclear issue will only feature in later stages of any final agreement, the foreign minister acknowledged that the current deadlock over enriched uranium stockpiles is the core obstacle to a permanent peace. The US has demanded that Tehran give up its stock of over 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium, a demand that Iran considers non‑negotiable.
Significantly, Araghchi indicated that Tehran may consider a proposal put forward by Russia at an “appropriate time,” though he offered no specifics. This signals a potential opening, albeit one that depends on Washington’s willingness to abandon its maximalist approach. The BRICS gathering in New Delhi provided a useful platform for Araghchi to meet with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, and to coordinate stances ahead of any future diplomatic push.
Despite the acrimony, Araghchi confirmed that a “very shaky” ceasefire is currently in place, and that Iran remains committed to preserving it to give diplomacy a final chance. However, he warned that Tehran’s patience should not be mistaken for weakness. “We are trying to keep the ceasefire to give diplomacy a chance, but we are also prepared to go back to fighting,” he said.
With the midterm elections looming in the US and the energy crisis deepening across Europe and Asia, Washington faces growing pressure to secure a deal. But as long as the trust deficit remains unresolved, the ceasefire will remain a fragile pause, not a path to peace.