Iran blamed the United States on Monday for the failure of recent peace talks as Tehran pushed a proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for an end to the war and the lifting of a U.S. blockade, leaving Washington and Tehran locked in a diplomatic standoff over whether any deal can proceed without immediate limits on Iran’s nuclear program.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made the accusation during a visit to Russia, where he met President Vladimir Putin as part of a wider diplomatic tour that also included contacts involving Pakistan, the main mediator between Washington and Tehran. According to reports citing Iranian state media, Araghchi said U.S. “approaches” caused the previous round of negotiations to fail despite progress, arguing that Washington’s excessive demands prevented the talks from achieving their goals.

The comments sharpened the political dispute over who is responsible for the breakdown in negotiations. Reuters reported separately that Araghchi said Tehran was reviewing President Donald Trump’s request for negotiations and claimed Trump had sought talks because the United States had not achieved its objectives. Trump, according to Reuters, scrapped a planned Islamabad visit by envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and said Iran could call if it wanted to negotiate.

The immediate diplomatic question centers on Iran’s latest offer over the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow Persian Gulf passageway that carries a major share of globally traded oil and natural gas. The Associated Press, citing two regional officials, reported Monday that Iran proposed ending its control over the strait if the United States lifts its blockade and the war ends. Under the proposal, the larger dispute over Iran’s nuclear program would be addressed later.

That sequencing is the main obstacle for Washington. U.S. officials have repeatedly said any durable settlement must prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, asked about Iran’s proposal in a Fox News interview cited by AP, said the nuclear issue “still remains the core issue,” and suggested Tehran was trying to buy time rather than resolve the central dispute.

The White House has not publicly accepted Iran’s terms. Reuters reported that Trump and senior national security aides met Monday to discuss the conflict, while White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said the president’s red lines on Iran had been made clear to both the American public and Tehran. The administration’s position leaves limited room for a narrow maritime deal if Iran continues to insist that nuclear talks be delayed until after the war and Gulf shipping disputes are resolved.

The standoff has significant economic and security implications for the United States. A prolonged disruption around Hormuz threatens oil flows, raises shipping costs and complicates air travel as fuel supplies tighten. AP reported that airlines worldwide have started canceling flights as the conflict strains jet fuel supplies and pushes up oil prices. U.S. officials have also warned third parties against assisting Iranian aviation, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent saying nations risk sanctions exposure if they provide services to Iranian commercial jets.

Russia’s role is also expanding. Putin received Araghchi in St. Petersburg and praised Iran’s resistance to U.S. and Israeli pressure, according to Reuters. Moscow said it would do what it could to help restore peace, while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the United States and Iran should continue negotiations and avoid a return to military action. Russia has repeatedly offered to mediate and has also proposed storing Iran’s enriched uranium, a concept Washington has not accepted.

For Iran, the Russia visit showed that Tehran still has major-power backing despite the pressure of the war, sanctions and shipping restrictions. Araghchi thanked Moscow for its support and said Iran had friends and allies standing with it during a difficult period. Putin also referenced Russia’s continuing strategic partnership with Tehran, including nuclear energy cooperation at Bushehr, according to Reuters.

The confrontation widened at the United Nations on Monday, where the United States and Iran clashed during the opening of the 11th review conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Reuters reported that Christopher Yeaw, assistant secretary for the U.S. Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation, criticized Iran’s selection as one of 34 vice presidents of the conference, calling it an affront to the treaty’s credibility. Iran’s representative rejected the U.S. criticism as baseless and politically motivated, pointing to Washington’s own nuclear record.

The UN exchange underscored why the Hormuz proposal faces steep odds. Iran says its enrichment program is peaceful and has long sought recognition of its right to enrich uranium. Western governments say the same activities could shorten the path to a nuclear weapon. Iran denies seeking nuclear arms, but U.S. officials argue that any agreement that leaves the nuclear question unresolved would fail to address the conflict’s central cause.

The war has also drawn in regional and European actors. AP reported that the United Kingdom does not support the U.S. blockade but backs working with Washington and others to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with British officials calling for safe and unimpeded maritime traffic. France and other governments have also pressed for restoration of navigation through the strait, reflecting broad concern that a prolonged closure could damage global energy markets far beyond the Middle East.

At the same time, the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict remains tied to fighting elsewhere in the region. AP reported heavy casualties in Iran and Lebanon since the war began, as Israel-Hezbollah fighting resumed after the Iran conflict started. The wider regional battlefield complicates any ceasefire formula because maritime security, Iran’s nuclear program, Israeli security demands, Hezbollah’s role and U.S. sanctions enforcement are now moving on overlapping diplomatic tracks.

Monday’s developments left diplomacy active but fragile. Iran is publicly blaming Washington for failed talks while proposing a deal that would ease pressure on global shipping without immediately resolving the nuclear issue. The United States is signaling that such a separation is unacceptable. With Pakistan mediating, Russia positioning itself as a supporter of Tehran and the UN nuclear forum becoming another venue for confrontation, the path to a broader settlement remains uncertain.