Iran's top diplomat affirmed on Sunday that no military remedy exists for the ongoing conflict waged by the United States against the Islamic republic, even as diplomatic discussions aimed at halting the hostilities appear deadlocked.

A intensive campaign of aerial bombardment has failed to yield a decisive end to the war initiated by the US and Israel in late February, prompting Washington to scale down direct military strikes in recent weeks to focus on economic leverage instead.

The central point of friction remains Iran's efforts to blockade the Strait of Hormuz—a crucial transit choke point for Persian Gulf oil and gas supplies—where a British maritime agency reported on Sunday that yet another tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile.

"If our enemies again choose the path of military confrontation, our response will be stronger than before, and we will defend ourselves with even more force," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared during an address to a gathering of foreign ambassadors.

"There is no military solution, nor any solution based on new sanctions," Araghchi continued, emphasizing that "only negotiations based on justice and fairness" could resolve the conflict.

The opposing parties had agreed to a memorandum of understanding in June outlining a framework for a lasting resolution; however, subsequent Iranian strikes on shipping vessels in the Strait of Hormuz led to a resumption of US military involvement.

Iran has sought to enforce sovereignty over the strategic maritime corridor since the onset of the war, targeting ships attempting to pass through without its express authorization. In turn, the US has established a counter-blockade against Iranian ports and targeted vessels alleged to be flouting those restrictions.

On Sunday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) stated that a tanker navigating the Hormuz "reported being struck by an unknown projectile, causing damage to the engine room", while clarifying that the crew remained uninjured and no environmental spill was detected.

The agency omitted specific details regarding the exact date of the attack, the vessel's flag state or destination, and whether the ship was carrying oil or liquified natural gas (LNG).

Iranian and American officials conducted indirect negotiations last week on the margins of the UN General Assembly, during which Tehran stated it laid out seven prerequisite conditions to reopen the waterway.

Iran's demands encompass a region-wide ceasefire across the Middle East, the unfreezing of its foreign asset reserves, the complete lifting of sanctions targeting its oil sector, and an immediate cessation of the US naval blockade.

US President Donald Trump rejected the proposal, though he maintained that the door remains open for further diplomacy or a resumption of military strikes.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei remarked on Sunday that Washington's latest counterproposal was merely "in line with their previous proposals concerning nuclear issues".

"We have clearly indicated that we are focusing on the issue of the Strait of Hormuz," Baqaei stated, reiterating that reopening the maritime passage necessitates "an end to the disruptions to Iranian commercial maritime traffic and the lifting of sanctions".

Although the United States and Israel initially justified the military campaign as a vital measure to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons—an ambition Tehran has consistently denied—the primary military focus rapidly shifted toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz after its shutdown triggered severe disruption in global energy markets.

While the United States has launched no direct strikes against Iranian territory since September 1, Washington has recently initiated a renewed military buildup across the region.

According to US news outlet Axios, the Pentagon has deployed supplemental Patriot missile defense batteries to Saudi Arabia and Qatar to safeguard critical energy infrastructure against potential Iranian strikes.

Axios further reported that the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier strike group is currently en route to the Middle East, where it could potentially link up with two other US carrier strike groups already operating in the area.

High-level Trump cabinet officials assembled on Friday to evaluate the war with Iran as well as the parallel conflict in Yemen, where Tehran-backed Houthi forces continue to battle government troops and launch strikes into Saudi Arabia.

Source: AFP