Iran’s top diplomat reiterated on Sunday that there is no military solution to the ongoing conflict with the United States, as efforts to resolve the war appear deadlocked. The confrontation, which began in late February with a US- and Israel-led military campaign, has so far failed to produce a decisive outcome. Recently, Washington has scaled back direct military actions and shifted its focus toward applying economic pressure on Tehran.

A central issue remains Iran’s attempts to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route for oil and gas exports from the Gulf region. On Sunday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency reported that another tanker in the Strait sustained damage after being struck by an unidentified projectile, this time affecting the vessel’s engine room.

Addressing a gathering of foreign ambassadors in Tehran, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that if adversaries choose to escalate with further military action, Iran’s response would be more forceful than before. He also emphasized that neither military confrontation nor new sanctions would resolve the crisis.

“Only negotiations based on justice and fairness” can bring an end to the conflict, Araghchi said, underscoring Tehran’s stance that diplomatic engagement is the only viable path forward. Meanwhile, international observers continue to monitor the heightened tensions in the strategic maritime corridor, where repeated incidents have raised concerns about the potential for wider escalation.