Iran Declares ‘Zero Trust’ in US and Calls for Complete End to War
Iran has made its position clear: trust in the United States has completely collapsed, and Tehran says the only acceptable outcome is a full end to the ongoing war. In a recent interview aired on Al Jazeera, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that there are currently no negotiations taking place between Iran and the United States, despite ongoing communication through indirect channels.
According to Araghchi, Iran continues to receive messages from the American side. Some are delivered directly, while others arrive through regional partners. However, he emphasized that these exchanges should not be mistaken for negotiations. Tehran has not officially responded to a widely reported 15-point proposal said to have come from Washington aimed at ending the war.
Araghchi explained that although communication lines exist, there is no real foundation for talks at this moment. He acknowledged that certain messages have been exchanged directly with US special envoy Steve Witkoff, but he stressed that these contacts do not represent formal diplomatic negotiations.
The conflict between Iran, the United States, and Israel escalated on February 28 after a series of strikes that killed Iran’s supreme leader. That incident triggered a broader regional confrontation that has continued to intensify. Since then, the war has expanded beyond isolated military actions, drawing concern from several countries in the region.
In response to the escalating crisis, diplomatic efforts have begun involving countries such as Turkey, Egypt, and Pakistan. These nations are attempting to mediate and find a pathway toward peace, hoping to prevent further regional instability.
Last week, two senior officials from Pakistan reported that Islamabad had delivered a 15-point framework to Iran containing proposals from the United States aimed at stopping the conflict. At the same time, Iranian media circulated reports suggesting that Tehran had drafted a five-point counterproposal. That alleged proposal called for an end to what Iran describes as aggression and demanded guarantees that the United States and Israel would not restart hostilities in the future.
However, Araghchi rejected those reports, stating clearly that Iran has not submitted any response to the US plan. He described the claims about a counterproposal as speculation rather than official policy.
The roots of this conflict run deeper than the recent escalation. The war began during a sensitive period when Iran and the United States were already engaged in discussions related to Iran’s nuclear program. The sudden outbreak of hostilities disrupted those diplomatic efforts and pushed both sides further apart.
Observers have also noted similarities to another confrontation last year, when Israel launched military strikes shortly before planned negotiations between Tehran and Washington. In that situation, the United States later joined the attacks, targeting Iranian nuclear facilities. The memory of those events continues to shape how Iran views current diplomatic proposals.
One of the most significant points raised by Iran’s foreign minister is the issue of trust. Araghchi stated that Iran has zero trust in the United States and therefore does not see a simple ceasefire as a solution. Instead, Tehran is calling for a complete end to the war along with compensation for damages caused by the conflict.
Meanwhile, the war has begun to affect global trade and energy supply. Since the conflict started and entered its second month, Iran has limited ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most critical waterways for global oil transportation. Approximately 20 percent of the world’s oil flows through this route, making any disruption there a serious concern for international markets.
Iranian authorities say the strait remains closed to what they call enemy shipping. This move has raised fears about further economic impacts if the situation continues to escalate.
Adding to the tension, Iranian officials have recently expressed concern about the arrival of the USS Tripoli in the region. The amphibious assault ship carries around 3,500 Marines and sailors, leading Iranian leaders to suspect that a possible ground operation could be under consideration.
Araghchi issued a strong warning in response, saying Iran is prepared and would respond forcefully if such a move occurs. He indicated that any attempt at escalation would result in heavy losses for those involved.
As the conflict continues, the world watches closely. Governments, analysts, and global markets are all paying attention to whether diplomacy can succeed or whether the situation could expand further across the region.
At its core, this conflict highlights a deeper reality of international relations: wars are not only fought with weapons but also shaped by trust, communication, and the willingness to step back from the edge. For ordinary people across the region and beyond, the hope remains simple yet powerful — an end to violence, stability in global markets, and a future where diplomacy once again becomes stronger than conflict.