US enters talks every time energy prices surge, says Iran

Iran has said that the United States of America returned to the negotiations table every time global energy prices increase, stressing that Tehran has not asked for the resumption of the dialogue.

Addressing his weekly news briefing in Tehran on Monday, Iranian foreign ministry’s spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Washington thought “Iran would collapse in three days and surrender” after the start of the US-Israeli war.

“Now, months later, America is stuck in this place and they are proud of its crimes,” he told reporters.

Baqaei said the US returns to the negotiation table whenever global energy prices increase. “Iran has not asked to resume talks with the United States to end the war, and the situation in the Strait of Hormuz has not changed,” Baqaei said.

He said the United States is “stuck and struggling” after its unprovoked attack on the country. “The Americans are struggling in their current situation, they have caused this. They have done this and now they are stuck. Our decision solely depends and relies on our national interests,” he maintained.

He added: “We have never allowed America to determine for us the time of war or peace.”
Foreign ministry spokesman said the United States was not involved in recent talks with Oman over the administration of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

"These talks have no connection with the United States. They are a bilateral matter between Iran and Oman, and they are continuing," said Baqaei, adding that the waterway "remains closed".

He said Iran was not currently involved in negotiations with the United States, despite a halt in recent fighting between the two sides. "At present, we are not engaged in any negotiations with the United States," he said, denying reports that Iran had requested talks.

Responding to a question, he said Tehran had summoned the French ambassador to Tehran to protest the conduct of two diplomats who were briefly detained earlier this month.

"Yesterday, the French ambassador in Tehran was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where it was stressed that the French government must cease such actions and such interference in Iran's internal affairs under misleading labels," Baqaei said.

He said the diplomats had "interfered in Iran's internal affairs under the pretext of engaging with civil society".

Their actions, Baqaei said, were "in no way justified under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations".

On July 20, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said two French diplomats in Iran were targeted by Iranian officials the day before and suffered "an extremely serious act of intimidation" by the Islamic republic's security services.

Both were "detained for several hours without reason, interrogated, and one of them was physically abused" before they were able to return to the embassy, he said.

Iran warns Ukraine

Foreign ministry spokesman warned of "unforeseen" consequences following Ukraine's attack on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea over the weekend.

"This action by Ukraine was an absolutely illegal and unjustified act, contrary to the Charter of the United Nations, as well as a dangerous act of adventurism that will certainly not go unanswered by us," he said.

The consequences of Ukraine's action "will certainly be unforeseen", he added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that Kyiv had carried out long-range strikes in the Caspian Sea against vessels transporting military cargo involving Iran.

Iran said the attack had caused the Iranian ship "to explode, killing one sailor and injuring several others", and warned that it would respond. "The Ukrainian regime must certainly be held accountable for it," Baqaei said.

Israel against transfer of nuclear tech to region
The Israeli government “will do whatever it takes to prevent the transfer of [nuclear] technologies” to the countries in the Middle East, foreign ministry spokesman said.

Replying to a question on the Saudi-US nuclear deal, Baqaei said: “Peaceful use of nuclear energy is everyone’s right.”

“The reason for the pressure on Iran was Iran’s use of its right. We leave the judgement to the world.”

Baqaei said Tehran primarily “holds the US responsible for the military aggression” against the country.

“Of course, we cannot ignore the participation of regional countries,” he said.

The official added: “We expect these countries not to continue cooperating with the US in actions against Iran.”

⭕ LIVE: Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson delivers remarks during weekly media briefing in Tehran. https://t.co/v7SFt6hNPm

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) July 27, 2026