Iran official accuses US of betraying diplomacy, violating ceasefire

Mohsen Rezaei, a senior advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution and a member of the Expediency Council, accused the United States of betraying diplomacy and violating ceasefire commitments in an interview with the national broadcaster late Thursday. Rezaei outlined a pattern of American betrayal, which he said has occurred three times. "The first betrayal came during the 12-day war and the second during the Ramadan war," he stated, referring to unprovoked wars that the US and Israel imposed on Iran in June 2025 and February, both occurring amid indirect talks between Tehran and Washington. The third betrayal, he described as the most brazen: one day before a two-week ceasefire was set to expire, the United States imposed a naval blockade. "That is a declaration of war," Rezaei said. "It is a betrayal of diplomacy."

Washington has maintained the illegal blockade of Iranian vessels and ports since US President Donald Trump announced its continuation in mid-April, violating the terms of the ceasefire brokered in the Pakistani capital. Rezaei also noted that America failed to honor its commitments on the Lebanon front, adding another breach to a growing list. Despite these violations, Rezaei implied that the door for talks has not been completely closed. He pointed to structural dishonesty poisoning negotiations, noting that Washington claims it will lift the blockade if the Strait of Hormuz is reopened, yet the strait remains open to commerce. "So why aren't they lifting the blockade now?" he asked. As a confidence-building measure, he demanded the US release at least $24 billion in frozen Iranian funds.

Rezaei emphasized the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, calling it "a powerful arm of deterrence for us." He stated, "The enemy must either come to its senses with a hard slap, or it must wisely accept Iran's conditions." The remarks come after Iran announced retaliatory strikes on an enemy vessel, the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, and a regional American airbase following US attacks on an Iranian oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz and a telecommunications tower on the Persian Gulf island of Qeshm. According to Mehr News Agency, Rezaei's comments highlight the ongoing tensions and the fragile state of diplomacy between Iran and the United States.