Tehran signals stricter demands, including war guarantees and control of key oil route, as indirect diplomacy continues
WEB DESK: Iran has significantly hardened its negotiating position as mediation efforts continue to end the ongoing conflict, according to senior officials familiar with internal discussions in Tehran.
Three sources told Reuters that Iran’s leadership, increasingly influenced by the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, is preparing to demand sweeping concessions from the United States if formal negotiations begin. These demands include guarantees against future military action, compensation for wartime losses, and recognition of Iran’s authority over the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Tehran is also expected to firmly reject any restrictions on its ballistic missile program, maintaining a long-standing red line that has complicated past diplomatic efforts.
Conflicting signals have emerged around the possibility of talks. Former US President Donald Trump said Washington had already engaged in “very strong” discussions with Iran, a claim Tehran has publicly denied.
Sources indicate Iran has instead held preliminary consultations with regional players including Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt to assess the feasibility of negotiations. European and regional officials confirmed that indirect communication channels remain active, with messages being relayed between Washington and Tehran.
Pakistan has reportedly been floated as a potential venue for direct talks, possibly in Islamabad later this week. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi could represent Tehran if discussions proceed.
However, analysts say any breakthrough remains unlikely, as Iran views its missile capabilities and control over critical waterways as essential to its defense strategy amid ongoing hostilities.
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