Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Friday accused the United States of undermining ongoing peace efforts after fresh military strikes and renewed exchanges of fire near the Strait of Hormuz.
The latest escalation comes despite Iran earlier indicating that it was reviewing a US-backed proposal aimed at ending the conflict. However, tensions surged again on Thursday night after reported US strikes targeted Bandar Abbas and Qeshm, two strategically important locations near the Strait of Hormuz.
Reacting strongly to the developments, Araghchi criticised Washington in a post on X, questioning the timing of the military action while diplomatic discussions were still under consideration.
Every time a diplomatic solution is on the table, the U.S. opts for a reckless military adventure. Is it a crude pressure tactic? Or the result of a spoiler once again duping POTUS into another quagmire?
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) May 8, 2026
Whatever the causes, outcome is the same: Iranians never bow to pressure. pic.twitter.com/ev7dMIebNB
“Every time a diplomatic solution is on the table, the U.S. opts for a reckless military adventure. Is it a crude pressure tactic? Or the result of a spoiler once again duping POTUS into another quagmire?” he wrote.
In a longer official statement, the Iranian foreign minister said diplomacy repeatedly becomes the casualty whenever tensions escalate.
“Whatever the causes, the outcome is the same: Iranians never bow to pressure and diplomacy is always the victim,” he stated.
Araghchi also pushed back against reported US intelligence assessments regarding Iran’s missile capabilities. Referring to claims about the damage caused to Iran’s military infrastructure, he asserted that Tehran’s missile strength remained intact and operational.
“Also, the CIA is wrong. Our missile inventory and launcher capacity are not at 75% compared to Feb 28. The correct figure is 120%,” he claimed.
“As for our readiness to defend our people: 1,000%,” he added.
The Iranian minister further argued that American intelligence assessments on Iran have historically underestimated the country’s military resilience.
According to statements cited by Araghchi, US intelligence agencies reportedly believe Iran still retains a significant portion of its ballistic missile capability despite weeks of sustained US and Israeli attacks.
“The analysis by the U.S. intelligence community, whose secret assessments on Iran have often been more sober than the administration’s public statements, also found that Tehran retains significant ballistic missile capabilities despite weeks of intense U.S. and Israeli bombardment,” the statement said.
It further claimed that Iran continues to maintain around 75 per cent of its prewar missile inventories and nearly 70 per cent of its missile stockpiles. The statement also suggested that Iran had managed to restore most of its storage facilities and repair several damaged missiles during the ongoing conflict.
Thursday night’s reported strikes specifically targeted Qeshm Port and military facilities in Bandar Abbas. Additional reports also indicated a strike on the Bandar Kargan naval checkpoint located in Minab.
The renewed military activity has raised fresh concerns over stability in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important oil shipping routes. Any escalation in the region could significantly impact global energy supplies and international trade routes.