He described the talks as technical negotiations focused on establishing new shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz, as the previous routes were no longer suitable.
“We are currently designing a temporary route that will later become permanent route,” he said, adding that experts from both countries, as well as Iran’s armed forces, are involved and the talks could conclude soon.
Araghchi stressed that the technical negotiations on shipping lanes should not be confused with the issue of reopening the strait.
“Once the route is determined, whether the Strait of Hormuz is reopened depends on the fulfillment of other conditions that the United States must comply with,” he said.
US joined Israel in attacking Iran on February 28, with strikes quickly killing the longtime supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, and much of the other top brass as well as hundreds of civilians.
But Iran quickly hit back by exerting control over the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow passageway through which one-fifth of global oil once sailed, and it has rained missiles and drones on Gulf states.
The US and Iran agreed to a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire in April and later signed a deal on June 17, launching negotiations toward a final agreement.
But the talks later stalled over disagreements on security guarantees and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategic routes for global energy supplies and trade.
From July 8 to 24, the US and Iran exchanged more military strikes, with Washington launching attacks on targets inside Iran.
Tehran responded by striking what it described as US military facilities and equipment in several Arab countries, including Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait.
