Iran Says US Deal Was Near Before Hormuz Blockade
Iran has said it was close to reaching an agreement with the United States during weekend talks in Islamabad before negotiations collapsed and Washington moved to announce a blockade targeting Iranian ports. The latest claim from Tehran adds a fresh diplomatic dimension to the crisis, suggesting the talks may have broken down only at the final stage despite signs of progress.
Araghchi Says US-Iran Deal Was Close
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Tehran was just “inches away” from a deal with Washington during the Islamabad talks. He blamed the failure on what he described as U.S. maximalism, shifting demands and the sudden turn toward blockade pressure. His remarks were presented as evidence that the collapse was not due to a total deadlock from the start, but because the negotiating gap widened again at a crucial moment.
Islamabad Talks Between US And Iran
The talks in Islamabad were among the highest-level contacts between the two sides in decades and were aimed at finding a way to ease the war-linked crisis. Pakistan had emerged as an important intermediary in trying to keep the two sides engaged. However, the negotiations failed to produce an agreement, and the situation quickly escalated into a maritime confrontation centred on Iranian port access and the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump Announces Iranian Port Blockade
After the talks failed, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a blockade applying to ships entering or leaving Iranian ports. The move marked a sharp escalation, even though it stopped short of a complete shutdown of all traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The announcement also triggered immediate concerns over shipping disruption, military risk and a renewed spike in oil prices.
Why Iran’s Claim Matters
Iran’s version of events matters because it shapes the diplomatic narrative around who derailed the talks. By saying a deal was close, Tehran is trying to show that the blockade was a political choice by Washington rather than an unavoidable outcome of failed diplomacy. That argument is likely to influence how other countries view the next phase of the crisis.
