Iran Rules Out US Talks Until Demands Are Met

Iran has rejected any immediate negotiations with the United States, despite President Donald Trump signalling that Washington is open to resuming discussions over the ongoing Middle East war. Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, dismissed Trump’s latest remarks, accusing the US president of sending mixed signals on diplomacy. In a post on X, Rezaei said Iran would not be distracted by what he described as changing positions from Washington, insisting that Tehran’s position remained firm. He said the situation surrounding oil and the strategic Strait of Hormuz had changed significantly and warned that diplomatic efforts aimed at limiting the consequences of the conflict would not alter Iran’s position. Rezaei maintained that Iran would not enter negotiations until its demands were addressed.

Trump, however, said on Monday that Iran was seeking a deal and that the United States remained open to engaging with Tehran. In a post on Truth Social, the US president said Iran wanted to reach an agreement quickly, while making clear that the decision on whether Washington would participate in talks remained his to make. Iran has repeatedly demanded major concessions as part of any arrangement to end the conflict, including compensation for damages suffered during the war and the lifting of US sanctions. Tehran has also linked any resolution to the situation around the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy route that has been affected by the conflict and blockade. The opposing positions highlight the continuing diplomatic gap between Washington and Tehran, with the United States signaling an openness to dialogue while Iran insists that negotiations cannot begin without its conditions being met.

#UTVAfrica#