Iran sets 7 conditions for US talks, warns Trump of ‘decisive war’ if terms rejected

Iran has laid out seven conditions for the United States through Qatar to restart talks aimed at ending the ongoing war. Tehran is prepared for a “decisive war” if US President Donald Trump rejects its demands, an Iranian diplomat has said.

Mohsen Rezaei claimed that Iran recently tested a multi-warhead anti-ship missile near a US vessel or aircraft carrier. (HT file)“We remain in contact with the mediator Qatar, which has conveyed our conditions to Washington with the aim of ending the war. We are awaiting President Trump’s response,” Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, was quoted as saying by Al Jazeera.

Rezaei did not publicly spell out all seven conditions. He, though, separately identified three demands that Tehran wanted addressed for the war to end: a halt to fighting on all fronts, the release of frozen Iranian funds and an end to the US naval blockade.

“It is in Washington’s interest to accept these conditions. Trump’s threats will not achieve any results. We are prepared for a decisive war,” he said.

Rezaei added that another US attack was “very much on the cards” based on Iranian military assessments, even as he said Tehran was pursuing a strategy “to bring this war to an end as soon as possible.”

He said Tehran changed its military planning after earlier rounds of fighting and was now focusing on US naval assets operating from the Persian Gulf through the Gulf of Oman and into the Arabian Sea.

Rezaei also claimed that Iran recently tested a multi-warhead anti-ship missile near a US vessel or aircraft carrier, as per Tehran Times.

He warned that if Washington launched another attack, Iran could respond against US military bases in the region as well as American commercial interests and companies operating there.

That said, Rezaei added that Tehran wanted the war to end as soon as possible. “In practical terms the war is still going on,” he said.

The US-Israeli war on Iran began on February 28. Coordinated air strikes by the Trump and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu governments assassinated Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamanei and several top officials.

Iran retaliated and struck at US bases across the Gulf. Washington and Tehran have since exchanged several rounds of attacks.

Trump said this week that he hoped the war was nearing an end and was expected to meet leaders of six Gulf countries on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Iran and the US have continued indirect contacts through regional mediators. Qatar and Pakistan have been involved in efforts to revive negotiations after a Islamabad-hosted memorandum of understanding expired last month without producing a lasting settlement.

Pakistan is also continuing its diplomatic efforts, with interior minister Mohsin Naqvi expected to visit Tehran. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has acknowledged Islamabad's mediation role but said he was not aware of any specific US proposal being carried by Naqvi.

Rezaei said Iran had not decided to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, despite growing pressure over its nuclear programme.

He said Tehran's nuclear doctrine had not changed and that Iran continued to observe a religious decree prohibiting nuclear weapons. Continued US actions could eventually push Iran to reconsider its decision, he said.

Iran's nuclear programme has remained one of the stated central points of the US and Israel's war on the country. Washington said it wanted to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon, while Iran maintained that its programme was peaceful.

Anita Goswami is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times, where she primarily covers Indian and international news. With four years of industry experience, she has led coverage of Indian General elections, Assembly elections, and national polls in the United States, Canada, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Her reporting covers global wars and major events, including Operation Sindoor, Sheikh Hasina's ouster and the Mahakumbh Mela. She verifies facts and uses clear sources to ensure accurate reporting. As former Chief Copy Editor at Storytailors, she managed teams to produce top-quality content for networks like NDTV, Profit, CNBC-TV18, Upstox and News18. Her work is featured in NDTV, Meaww, and Global Pulse. Throughout her tenure, Anita has collaborated with and been mentored by top industry experts. When not reading, Anita can be found outdoors or at a bakery. Fields of interest: Indian political history, international elections, historical policy analysis, global conflicts, cultural events, Formula 1, art, media ethics and reporting on socio-political change over time.Read More