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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday accused the United States of using “maximalist demands, threatening rhetoric, and lack of good faith” that he said were blocking efforts to end the conflict and reach a diplomatic agreement.
Araghchi made the remarks during a meeting in Tehran with Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik, according to Iran’s Mehr News Agency.
The Iranian foreign minister said repeated violations of the ceasefire by the United States and Israel had become the main source of instability in the region, particularly around the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
Araghchi said Iran, as a coastal state bordering the Strait of Hormuz, was consulting on new regulations for the waterway in accordance with international law.
He described Washington’s conduct as marked by “excessive demands, threatening and provocative language, and an absence of good faith and sincerity,” adding that these factors remained the biggest obstacle to ending the war and reaching a workable agreement.
Norway’s deputy foreign minister stressed the importance of lasting regional peace and stability and offered Oslo’s support in diplomacy, maritime safety consultations and environmental protection efforts.
Meanwhile, tensions between Iran and Kuwait escalated after Tehran demanded the immediate release of four Iranian citizens detained by Kuwaiti authorities in the Gulf.
“In clear attempt to sow discord, Kuwait has unlawfully attacked an Iranian boat and detained 4 of our citizens in the Persian Gulf. This illegal act took place near island used by the U.S. to attack Iran,” Araghchi wrote on X.
“We demand immediate release of our nationals and reserve the right to respond,” he added.
Kuwait’s Interior Ministry said earlier that the four men arrested while attempting to enter the country by sea had confessed to belonging to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.
According to Kuwait’s state news agency KUNA, the detainees included two navy colonels, a captain, and a lieutenant commander allegedly tasked with infiltrating Bubiyan Island, Kuwait’s largest coastal island in the northwestern Gulf.
Kuwait said one member of its armed forces was injured during clashes with the alleged infiltrators. It later summoned Iran’s ambassador and handed over a protest note describing the incident as a “hostile act”.
Kuwait also said it reserved the right to defend its sovereignty under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.
Iran rejected the allegations as “absolutely baseless”, insisting the officers had mistakenly entered Kuwaiti waters after a malfunction in their navigation system during a routine maritime patrol.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Iran’s armed forces were prepared for “any scenario” and urged the international community to reject “barbarism and domination” by supporting Tehran’s position.
Separately, Iranian military officials issued strong warnings regarding control of the Strait of Hormuz.
An Iranian military spokesperson said there was “no path for retreat” from the confrontation involving the United States and Israel, adding that Iranian forces remained on high alert despite an existing ceasefire.
The spokesperson claimed Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Navy controlled the western section of the Strait of Hormuz, while the Iranian Navy controlled the eastern side. He also alleged that Iranian forces had prevented enemy strikes during the conflict and destroyed US military equipment across bases in the Middle East.
Senior Revolutionary Guards naval official Captain Saeed Sarani warned that no oil tanker would be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without Iran’s permission.
“If the people and authorities order it, Iran will not allow even one litre of oil to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without its permission,” he said.
Sarani added that although a full-scale naval war had not begun, Iran had already imposed a “smart blockade” and was fully prepared for unconventional warfare.
Iranian Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia also said foreign vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz would now do so under the supervision of Iran’s armed forces to ensure “safe transit”.
