ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iran’s resuming negotiations with the United States is contingent on establishing an end to the war and credible guarantees against the recurrence of hostilities, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said, as Tehran is expected to respond within hours to a 14-point proposal submitted by Washington through Pakistani mediators.
“The Islamic Republic remains distrustful of the United States due to hostile actions taking place alongside negotiations,” the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) cited Pezeshkian as telling French President Emmanuel Macron during a late Wednesday phone call, while reaffirming “Tehran’s readiness to resolve outstanding issues within the framework of international law.”
Pezeshkian added that “repeated US obstruction, coupled with the reimposition of sanctions, has shifted diplomacy away from constructive engagement toward pressure, threats, and sanctions,” emphasizing that “any effective negotiation requires an end to war and credible guarantees against the recurrence of hostile measures.”
The US and Israel launched a wide scale aerial campaign against Iran on February 28, striking more than 17,000 sites across the country over six weeks of hostilities before the sides agreed to a Pakistan-mediated ceasefire on April 8. The truce halted fighting for two weeks and paved the way for negotiations.
While the first round of talks concluded without a final agreement on April 11, a second round has yet to take place, with a comprehensive resolution to the conflict still pending.
In parallel with the diplomatic efforts, Iran and the US have engaged in tit-for-tat maritime measures. Tehran has tightened its grip on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, while Washington initiated a maritime blockade on Iranian ports on April 13.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Wednesday that 52 commercial vessels linked to Iran have been diverted or ordered to turn back by US forces, affirming that the naval blockade on Iranian ports remains “in full effect.”
In his phone call with France’s Macron, Pezeshkian reportedly stated that “Iran has long safeguarded peace and stability” in the Strait, arguing that “US naval actions and seizures of Iranian vessels have disrupted regional confidence and global trade.”
He also urged “European states to align diplomatic rhetoric with practical steps, particularly on sanctions relief, while welcoming any initiative that strengthens regional peace and security.”
Importantly, the Iranian president’s remarks come as Tehran’s foreign ministry spokesperson said Wednesday that “the US plan and proposal [to end the escalation between the two sides] are still under review by Iran,” according to the state-affiliated Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA).
Esmaeil Baghaei added that Tehran will convey its position to the Pakistani side once the assessment process is complete.
Earlier that day, the American news outlet Axios reported that Washington and Tehran are moving closer to agreeing on a one-page memorandum of understanding that could end hostilities and establish a framework for broader nuclear talks, according to US officials and sources familiar with the matter.
The report added that Washington expects Iran to respond “on several key points in the next 48 hours,” noting that while no final agreement has been reached, this is “the closest” the two sides have come to an understanding since the outbreak of the six-week war.
For his part, US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that if Iran “agrees to give what has been agreed to,” the US military campaign against the country will end and the Strait of Hormuz will be open to all, including Iran.
However, he warned that “if they [Iranians] don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before,” according to his post on Truth Social.
Meanwhile, Pakistani foreign ministry Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi on Thursday expressed hope that a deal would be struck “as soon as possible.”
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