Iraqi: We Want a "Comprehensive Agreement" with America

SadaNews - Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Wednesday that his country will only accept a "fair and comprehensive agreement" in its negotiations with the United States regarding ending the war in the Middle East, while President Donald Trump indicated that there has been "significant progress" in this process.

Iranian media quoted Araqchi as saying after a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing, "We will do our utmost to protect our legitimate rights and interests in the negotiations... We will accept only a fair and comprehensive agreement."

He did not directly address Trump's offer to temporarily halt U.S. operations to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, which was announced earlier to stimulate efforts towards reaching an agreement between the two sides.

The strait has been effectively closed since the start of the conflict on February 28 due to airstrikes launched by the U.S. and Israel on Iran, which has disrupted about 20 percent of global oil supplies and triggered a global energy crisis.

Trump wrote on social media: "We mutually agreed that while the blockade will remain fully in effect, the Freedom Project will be suspended... for a short period of time to see if an agreement can be reached and signed."

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior officials from the U.S. administration stated earlier on Tuesday that Iran should not be allowed to control traffic through the strait.

Iran has effectively closed the strait by threatening to plant mines, deploy drones and missiles, and use speedboats. The U.S. responded by imposing a blockade on Iranian ports and providing escort for passing commercial ships.