Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on August 9, 2026, that Iran is not currently engaging in direct negotiations with the United States but is exchanging messages through mediators instead [1, 2, 3]. He added that talks cannot resume until the US stops violating the memorandum of understanding signed in June and compensates for those violations. "Until the violations of the memorandum of understanding by the United States (US) are over and the United States does not compensate for what it has violated, it is not possible to restart the negotiations," Araghchi said [1].
The memorandum of understanding was reached in June 2026 following a ceasefire agreement in April aimed at ending military conflict and establishing peace between Iran and Washington [1, 2, 3]. However, the peace deal collapsed last month with renewed attacks exchanged before US President Donald Trump abruptly halted bombardment amid reports of talks [1, 2, 3].
Araghchi said mediators remain active in seeking new ways to negotiate. "Mediators are still trying to find new ways to negotiate," he said [1]. Meanwhile, Iran and Oman are close to finalizing an agreement on a new maritime transit route through the Strait of Hormuz. Talks on the issue have made "good progress and reached their final stage," Araghchi said on August 9, but he cautioned that "this, of course, does not mean the opening of the Strait of Hormuz. Any reopening was subject to a series of conditions" conveyed through intermediaries [4, 3].
Separately, Saudi Aramco extinguished a fire early August 9 at its refinery in Jazan, Saudi Arabia, with no injuries reported [4]. Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for the drone strike that caused the blaze, though this claim is unverified [4]. The Saudi Ministry of Energy said authorities were completing procedures regarding the incident [4].
According to the timeline of recent regional events, US and Israeli attacks on Iran in February 2026 escalated tensions, leading to the April ceasefire, June memorandum of understanding, and the July collapse of the peace deal with resumed attacks [1, 2, 3]. Araghchi’s statements on August 9 underscore ongoing indirect communications and stalled diplomacy.
Negotiators have yet to confirm a timeline for resuming direct talks between Iran and the US. Meanwhile, dialogue continues with Oman on maritime transit arrangements, pending further conditions communicated through mediators [4, 3].
