Iran Wants Fair Deal With US, Says Foreign Minister

Iran’s foreign minister told a Chinese diplomat that the country will only accept an agreement that is fair and comprehensive. He said Iran would protect its rights during talks with the United States. The U. S. president announced that it might pause operations in the Strait of Hormuz while a deal is finalized. This pause could help both sides reach an agreement, but the minister did not mention the offer directly. The Strait of Hormuz is a key route for oil, and its blockage has caused a global energy crisis. The U. S. and Israel started air attacks on Iran on February 28, which led to the shutdown of about twenty percent of world oil supplies. Oil prices fell after the U. S. announcement, showing how sensitive markets are to the conflict. Brent crude dipped a little, and U. S. West Texas Intermediate futures also eased slightly. The White House has not yet explained how long the pause would last or what progress has been made.U. S. officials have warned that Iran cannot control traffic in the strait, and Iran has threatened to use mines and missiles. Both sides have used force: the U. S. destroyed Iranian boats, cruise missiles, and drones. A fragile ceasefire that began four weeks ago is still holding. The war has killed thousands and spread to Lebanon and the Gulf, hurting the global economy. Even if it ended today, experts say fixing its effects could take months. The U. S. president claims Iran’s military is weakened and that Tehran wants peace, despite ongoing threats. He says attacks on Iran aim to eliminate what he sees as nuclear and missile dangers, and to stop support for Hamas and Hezbollah. Iran says the attacks violate its sovereignty and that it has a right to peaceful nuclear development under international law. Diplomatic talks have stalled, with only one round of face‑to‑face meetings held so far.