Lucknow: Any negotiation between the US and Iran needs to be on equal terms, Maulana Yasoob Abbas, general secretary of the All India Shia Personal Law Board leader (AISPLB) said on Sunday.
He was reacting to the failure of the talks held in Islamabad, which ended without any agreement even after 21 hours of negotiations.
“Any agreement will be on equal terms, or there will be no agreement at all,” Abbas told ANI.
Iran would not accept any unilateral conditions, he said, insisting that any future agreement must be based on equality between both sides.
“Regarding the conditions, they won’t be set by America; they will be set by Iran. Any agreement will be on equal terms, or there will be no agreement at all,” Abbas said.
Iran was deliberately pressured through geopolitical strategies, yet the country remained firm despite years of conflict and sanctions, he claimed.
“They were out to destroy Iran’s civilisation, and then they came to the table for talks. This was all a game. America stopped the war only to increase its military strength,” he said
Iran had consistently withstood external pressure and would not compromise on sovereignty or self-respect under any circumstances, Abbas said, adding: “Iran is ready for every attack. Iran has neither bent nor broken.”
Sacrifices made in past conflicts had not weakened the country, he maintained.
“No compromise will be made if it involves surrendering to America or compromising self-respect,” the Shia’ite leader said.
On US president Donald Trump’s claim that his country had already won, Abbas questioned Washington’s participation in the talks.
“If America had won, why is it sitting at the table in Islamabad?” he said, adding that ongoing diplomatic engagement reflected the continuing relevance of negotiations.
He further claimed that Iran’s strategic position, including control over key maritime routes, remained strong and that the country had not weakened despite long-standing international pressure.
“As for the Strait of Hormuz, America doesn’t control it. It’s completely under Iran’s control and within its territorial waters. So, whatever happens in the Strait of Hormuz will be according to Iran’s wishes, not America’s,” Abbas said.
Concerns over the failure of the talks were also raised by All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) member Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali, who said the breakdown was “a matter of concern” for global peace.
International organisations, including the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), should intervene and facilitate renewed dialogue between the two sides, he said.
