Iran and US Intensify Negotiations

TEHRAN — The Iranian government has addressed the continuation of negotiations with the United States to end the war. Iran insists that seven preconditions must be agreed before access through the Strait of Hormuz is reopened.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi reportedly conveyed a message to the United States during a recent visit to Qatar. “Gharibabadi’s trip to Doha was intended to facilitate the exchange of messages between Iran and the United States through Qatari mediation,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said.

“The exchange of messages is continuing, but the US must understand that without the lifting of the economic blockade and the fulfilment of its commitments, unilateral security in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf cannot be achieved,” he added.

Baghaei said that over the past two years Washington “has not only failed to offer any diplomatic initiatives, but has actively undermined diplomatic processes”.

“Iran’s principal benchmark in future negotiations will be the US government’s actual conduct and practical actions,” he told reporters. “The US must now make a move, and Iran’s demands are clear and reasonable.”

Baghaei added: “No agreement will be reached, and the Strait of Hormuz will not be reopened or secured, unless the US naval blockade is lifted and Iran’s legitimate demands are fully met.”

Iran’s seven-step plan remains on the table, but has now been “condensed so it can be implemented within two days” in order to achieve peace, the Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

“This also demonstrates Iran’s good-faith approach. We have said that if Iran’s demands are met, security in the Strait of Hormuz can be restored and negotiations can begin shortly,” Baghaei said.

“Everything depends on how the US wishes to move forward with the future of this process.”

Iran’s seven conditions include a ceasefire across the Middle East, the release of Iranian assets frozen abroad, the lifting of sanctions on the oil sector, an end to the US naval blockade, payment of war reparations, the withdrawal of US forces, and an end to threats and interference.

Iran has warned that a new war with the United States and Israel would not be confined to the Middle East. Tehran has threatened to extend the battlefield to Europe if Washington and Tel Aviv launch military strikes again.

The warning was issued by Manouchehr Mottaki, a former Iranian foreign minister who is now a member of parliament representing Tehran. He said Iran would no longer limit the geographical reach of its retaliatory strikes if war broke out again.

“If another war breaks out against Iran, it will extend to Europe. Removing geographical limits means our missiles will be able to reach Europe,” Mottaki was quoted as saying by Iranian media.

Mottaki’s statement came a day after Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, ordered the military to prepare an immediate response to any possible new US and Israeli attack. Khamenei specifically told the military not to limit the geographical scope of retaliatory strikes.

“Every level or type of threat must be met with an immediate, impactful response that is not geographically limited,” Khamenei said in a statement published on his official website.

Mottaki said the instruction was a firm message to countries hostile to Iran and to those supporting them.

He also accused several European countries, including the UK, Italy, Portugal and Germany, of allowing the US to use their military bases to launch attacks on Iran.

“These countries are complicit in the crimes committed by America,” he said.

The threat to widen the war suggests Iran could expand its military targets to Europe, Turkey and the South Caucasus if new attacks are launched. Khamenei’s statement that threats of every level and type would be answered has also raised concerns that Iran could act before a US-Israeli attack actually takes place.

Iran’s official news agency, IRNA, said Khamenei met several senior military commanders on Saturday. The meeting discussed the armed forces’ readiness for possible new military operations by the US and Israel.

Iranian state media reported that Khamenei had asked for the list of potential US and Israeli targets to be updated. It should cover all kinds of assets, both physical and non-physical.

He also stressed that Iran would decide for itself when the war ends.

“If Iran’s enemies launch military or terrorist attacks again, it will be the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic and the Iranian people who decide when, and under what conditions, those attacks will end,” he said.