Iran and the United States have not yet come close to an agreement to end the war. This was stated by a senior Iranian official who referenced recent diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing a return to active conflict following the U.S. midterm elections.
Military and Diplomatic Tensions
In a military action, the United States has conducted "defensive" strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island, with American officials stating that these strikes were aimed at targeting surface-to-air missiles used against American assets. Meanwhile, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran has announced that it shot down an American MQ-9 drone over the skies of the eastern Strait of Hormuz.
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The senior Iranian official added that "mediators are seriously working to bridge the gaps between Tehran and Washington," referring to the visit of Qatari mediators to Tehran to discuss the draft agreement between Iran and the United States, which has been under negotiation for eight days.
Iran's Positions on Negotiations
This Iranian official warned that "Tehran's conditions must be met if the United States wants to reopen the Strait of Hormuz" and added that nuclear negotiations will only begin afterward, with Tehran not accepting Washington's "unreasonable" demands. Furthermore, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the Speaker of Iran's Parliament, stated that "the ball is in the United States' court" and that Tehran has provided a strong and logical response to Washington.
Qalibaf also emphasized that Iran will respond strongly and unpredictably to U.S. threats and military actions, adding that "the enemy is trying to force the Iranian nation into submission through threats and military actions, but they are mistaken; Iran will not surrender."
The U.S. government, led by Donald Trump, also expressed doubts on Monday about the possibility of returning to military strikes against Iran after the midterm elections, stating that he believes Tehran is seeking to reach an agreement as soon as possible.
Regional Diplomatic Efforts
Alongside the exchange of messages between Iran and the United States through intermediaries, regional diplomatic efforts are also underway to prevent escalation of tensions. Abbas Araghchi, Iran's Foreign Minister, announced on Tuesday that negotiations between Iran and Saudi Arabia are ongoing, with Tehran seeking to establish new regional security arrangements for the countries in the region without foreign military intervention.
Last week, senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan met with Iranian officials in Tehran, marking the first high-level contact between Iran and these three countries since August. The U.S. and Israeli war against Iran began in late February and has since spread to Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
Saudi Arabia stated that this visit was aimed at opening channels for negotiation to "prevent a return to military escalation," as conflicts between Saudi Arabia and Iran-aligned Houthis have intensified in recent weeks. Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia have increased as the group has advanced towards the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key point for maritime transport.
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