Iran said Monday that the Strait of Hormuz remains closed and insisted that Washington cannot dictate when the fighting ends. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said there had been no change in the shipping situation despite a pause in attacks between Iran and the United States.

“We have never allowed, and will not allow, the United States to determine the timing of the war,” Baghaei said. “We will defend ourselves whenever our interests require it, and we will certainly use diplomatic tools whenever we feel it is appropriate.”

Baghaei rejected reports that Tehran had resumed negotiations with Washington. “We currently have no negotiations with the United States,” he said, adding that Iran was instead holding discussions with Oman over arrangements for vessels passing through the strategic waterway. Qatar and Pakistan are also working to revive broader indirect diplomacy between the two sides. 

The remarks came after the United States and Iran paused attacks following nearly two weeks of escalating strikes. Washington described the lull as an opportunity for diplomacy, while Tehran said it would suspend retaliatory attacks as long as the U.S. bombing pause remained in place.

Baghaei also threatened a response to a Ukrainian attack on an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea. Iran said the strike caused an explosion that killed one sailor and wounded another. Ukraine said it had targeted vessels used to carry military cargo between Iran and Russia.