Iran had no intention to hold talks with the United States, but an American proposal to end the war is being reviewed by top authorities in Tehran, the Islamic Republic’s foreign minister told state media on Wednesday, according to a new report.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also said that an exchange of messages between the two countries via mediators “does not mean negotiations with the U.S,” Reuters reported.
Earlier Wednesday, state media in Iran said that country would reject a U.S. ceasefire offer and has laid out its own list of conditions for ending the war.
State broadcaster Press TV, citing a senior political-security official with knowledge of the details of the proposal, reported that Iran’s five-point counteroffer would give Tehran control over the Strait of Hormuz.
That may be a nonstarter for the United States.
President Donald Trump on Monday floated the possibility that the Strait of Hormuz, which is the world’s most crucial oil shipping route, could be controlled jointly by “me and the ayatollah.”
Iran also seeks war-related reparations, the official told the state news outlet.
Here is Iran’s complete list of conditions, according to Press TV:
- A complete halt to “aggression and assassinations” by the enemy.
- The establishment of concrete mechanisms to ensure that the war is not reimposed on the Islamic Republic.
- Guaranteed and clearly defined payment of war damages and reparations.
- The conclusion of the war across all fronts and for all resistance groups involved throughout the region.
- Iran’s exercise of sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz is and will remain Iran’s natural and legal right, and it constitutes a guarantee for the implementation of the other party’s commitments, and must be recognized.
Earlier Wednesday, the Fars News Agency, another Iranian state media outlet said there have been increased U.S. efforts to enact a ceasefire and start indirect talks with Iran to end the war.
“Iran does not accept a ceasefire,” a so-called source told Fars, according to a translation of the news site’s Telegram page that reported the interview.
“Basically, it is not logical to enter into such a process with those who violate the agreement,” the source said.
The source also told Fars that Iran intends to realize its strategic goals in the war, and that only when that happens will there be a possibility of ending the conflict, the outlet reported.
The conflict began Feb. 28 with strikes by the U.S. and Israel against the Islamic Republic.
Meanwhile, The Associated Press reported that Iran has received Trump’s 15-point peace plan.
Trump said on Tuesday that the U.S. and Iran are currently in negotiations.
Iran has denied that there are any direct negotiations between the two countries.
