Tehran, Iran - Iran on Tuesday called on the US to meet its demands for the reopening of the Hormuz Strait after President Donald Trump spoke of "positive momentum" towards an end to the war.
Tehran has said it could reopen Hormuz, the vital global energy conduit that it has blockaded since the war began, within two days if Washington meets a raft of conditions.
"The conflict with Iran will not be resolved through military means, nor by intensifying sanctions," Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Iran's IRNA news agency.
"The only solution is to adopt a language of respect, engage in diplomacy, and address Iran's demands and conditions – which were outlined in the two-day proposal and remain on the table."
Iran's conditions include an end to the war on all fronts, the unfreezing of Iranian assets, and the lifting of oil sanctions. They also include a total end to the US counter-blockade of Iranian ports.
On Monday, Trump said there was momentum towards ending the conflict after meeting Qatar's prime minister at the White House.
In a post to Truth Social, Trump reiterated that the US was "locked and loaded," but said further strikes were "quite unlikely" given that key US allies in the Gulf "would prefer the status quo."
"We are seeing positive momentum toward an end to this Conflict, and will ensure that America's interests are at all times protected," Trump wrote.
Washington has in recent days appeared to taper down threats of renewed strikes on Iran, especially Trump suffered a historic defeat in last week's midterm elections.
Qatari foreign ministry official Ibrahim Al-Hashmi confirmed "progress" in the negotiations.
"The mediator is making a persistent and earnest effort to bridge the gaps between the parties' positions," he told a regular briefing, adding: "We remain hopeful."