Iran’s top security official Mohsen Rezaei said Tehran is not negotiating with Washington, contradicting suggestions of diplomatic progress after President Donald Trump met Qatar’s prime minister.
Rezaei Rejects Claims Of Ongoing Negotiations
As reported by Reuters, in an interview with broadcaster Al-Mayadeen on Tuesday, Rezaei said Iran was awaiting a “clear and explicit” U.S. response to seven conditions before negotiations could resume.
Rezaei disputed claims of continuing talks and a possible meeting in Qatar. He also rejected reports of discussions with Vice President JD Vance, according to his Al-Mayadeen interview.
The remarks followed Rezaei’s warning in a social media post on Monday that Washington should stop spreading claims about “imaginary talks” and accept Tehran’s seven conditions.
Iran has tied negotiations and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to conditions associated with a June interim agreement. Rezaei said Washington had not supplied the requested answer but could still respond later.
The White House did not immediately respond to Benzinga’s request for comment.
Iran Links Hormuz Reopening To Seven Conditions
In October, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf ruled out reopening the waterway before Tehran’s conditions were satisfied, citing the June Islamabad memorandum.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said that day that Tehran prioritized restoring security in the strait over nuclear negotiations. Iran had proposed restoring normal shipping within seven days if Washington complied.
Tehran previously described Washington’s response as inadequate.
Trump Pauses Fresh Strikes After Qatar Meeting
Trump met Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani at the White House on Monday. Reuters reported that day that Trump would suspend fresh strikes following regional appeals while maintaining the U.S. naval blockade.
Trump said American forces were “fully locked and loaded,” while Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed Iran’s proposed terms as “outrageous and ridiculous and really not realistic.”
The diplomatic outreach followed earlier Qatari mediation efforts. Iran’s proposal seeks an end to the U.S. blockade, sanctions relief and a halt to attacks before Tehran eases restrictions on Hormuz.
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