Iran Demands US Guarantees Against Repeating 'Mistakes', Prioritises Negotiations

Tehran, despite no longer trusting Washington, demands guarantees from the US that it will not repeat the same ‘mistakes’ that occurred during previous negotiations, according to Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee. ‘We welcome dialogue and negotiations. However, the mediators must seriously fulfil their responsibilities, which is to give us guarantees that the US will not repeat its mistakes. Unfortunately, so far, they have not succeeded,’ Azizi said, commenting on the potential for talks with the US. According to him, Washington must earn trust because Iran has been attacked several times during the negotiation process. ‘The whole world witnessed it. Those countries acting as mediators, taking this fact into account, must urge the US to admit its mistakes,’ the parliamentarian stated. Iran has always proposed negotiations, but if the US continues to violate its commitments, Azizi said, Tehran will also see no need to comply with any agreement. Azizi added that it is the US ‘that has caused this distrust.’ Previously, Tehran and Washington signed a memorandum of understanding remotely on 18 June to end the military conflict. However, since 8 July, US forces have conducted a series of attacks against Iran. US Central Command (CENTCOM) claimed the attacks were in retaliation for Iranian actions against several commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian forces subsequently retaliated by attacking several US bases in the Middle East region.