US also involves Austria and Greece in talks with Iran
US Involves Austria, Greece in Iran Talks
The US has activated diplomatic relations with Austria and Greece in an attempt to restart talks with Iran, the Associated Press reported.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger in Washington on August 11. The next day, he spoke by phone with Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis.
Shortly after, the Austrian and Greek foreign ministers also spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.
The US State Department said Rubio did not ask them to deliver any messages to Tehran on behalf of Washington. However, it confirmed that the issue of Iran was discussed during the meetings and talks.
According to a European diplomat interviewed by the AP, the sequence of these diplomatic contacts is not accidental.
“Austria has proposed holding the next round of talks with Iran in Vienna. The headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency is also located in this city. In 2015, the final talks on Iran’s nuclear program were also held in Vienna. Greece has a direct interest in shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. Gerapetritis stressed the importance of open sea lanes and free movement of ships in her conversation with Arakchi,” the analytical article says.
The Austrian side also stated that the problem with Iran cannot be solved militarily, noting that a diplomatic agreement remains possible.
Oman, Qatar, Turkey and Pakistan are also participating in the dialogue between the US and Iran. However, the negotiations have not yet yielded a stable result.
One of the main issues for Washington is the restoration of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. A significant part of the world’s oil transported by sea passes through this strategic corridor.
US Vice President Jay Dee Vance said that opening the Strait of Hormuz is important for controlling oil and gas prices. Another goal of Washington is to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
It has been almost six months since the war began
The US and Israel's war against Iran began on February 28, 2026. Although almost six months have passed, the military confrontation continues. Against the backdrop of the war, shipping in the Strait of Hormuz has also been severely limited.
In June, the US and Iran reached a temporary agreement, but it did not last long. Washington accused Tehran of not opening the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran accused the US of not lifting the blockade of ports and failing to fulfill other obligations.
In early August, the two sides were said to be close to an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but the talks again ended in failure.
Iran is demanding sanctions relief and war compensation in exchange for opening the strait. The United States wants to restore freedom of navigation and receive guarantees on Iran's nuclear program.
Diplomatic efforts have so far failed to yield any tangible results, as the parties' positions on key demands remain unchanged.