Iran's Araghchi: Gulf security must include shared economic dimension

TEHRAN, Iran — TEHRAN — Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Gulf security must be built on a shared framework that includes economic dimensions, according to remarks carried by Iranian state television. He added that mediators had been told Tehran did not accept only a ceasefire and that the war must be ended. Araghchi said Qatar and Pakistan had played an important mediating role and described relations between Tehran and Doha as being at a very good stage. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf argued that the United States was seeking to extract new concessions in negotiations by increasing pressure, but that the U.S. Treasury and defense secretaries lacked the authority to deliver them. U.S. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, said there were no current or planned talks with Iran and that the naval blockade on Tehran would continue. Pakistani officials said the next 48 hours could be decisive for the future of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, warning that the risk of renewed conflict would rise if the dispute persisted and broad negotiations did not resume. After Iran's temporary ceasefire expired, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that the country had shifted to a "fully aggressive" military posture because of the diplomatic deadlock. No further details were immediately available.