Tehran: Iran has set rigorous ceasefire terms in reply to US President Donald Trump’s proposal for fresh negotiations to resolve the current conflict in West Asia. Among the demands, Tehran calls for shutting down every US military base across the Gulf, monetary compensation for war-related losses, and a stop to Israel’s strikes against Hezbollah.
Central to these conditions is the Strait of Hormuz. Iran wants a mechanism granting it supervision and the right to levy charges on ships navigating this essential passage for global oil shipments, thereby gaining substantial sway over a key maritime artery, as reported by DNA.
While maintaining tough public posture, Iran, nonetheless, has dropped hints suggesting room for behind-the-scenes negotiations, according to sources. Possible trade-offs include a five-year freeze on its ballistic missile development, reduced uranium enrichment, and access for International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors to surviving centrifuges.
Moreover, talks could also cover Iran’s 60 percent-enriched uranium reserves and restraints on aid to proxies such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and militias in Iraq. Such gestures are seen as openings for dialogue, contrasting the rigid official line.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has cemented its authority in Iran’s decision-making circles, steering negotiation tactics and communications alike. Experts point to this power shift as pivotal in crafting Tehran’s firm requirements for both overt declarations and covert exchanges.
Iranian military spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaqari criticised US officials, charging them with “negotiating with itself.” He cautioned that US stakes and pre-conflict fuel costs will stay strained “until Washington acknowledges that regional stability is ensured by Iranian armed forces.”
These prerequisites surface against a reported 15-point US peace outline, met by Iran’s six main conditions as noted in Lebanese media and elsewhere.
