Iran has formally conveyed a set of conditions to the United States for ending the ongoing war, with Qatar acting as an intermediary, according to Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.
Speaking exclusively to Al Jazeera on Saturday, September 19, Rezaei said Tehran remains in contact with Qatar, which has delivered Iran’s proposals to Washington. He added that Iran is now awaiting a response from US President Donald Trump.
Iran’s three main conditions are an end to the war on all fronts, the release of Iranian funds frozen abroad and an end to the US naval blockade.
Rezaei said Iran remains open to diplomacy but is also preparing for a possible escalation. He warned that Tehran is ready for what he described as a decisive war if another US attack occurs.
He said Iran’s military strategy has changed following two previous rounds of fighting and is now focused primarily on US naval forces operating from the Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
Rezaei also claimed that Iran recently test-fired a multi-warhead anti-ship missile near a US vessel or aircraft carrier, saying the weapon could undergo further development.
He warned that any future Iranian response could target US military bases in the region as well as American commercial interests and companies operating there.
Nuclear Programme and Strait of Hormuz
On Iran’s nuclear programme, Rezaei said Tehran has not decided to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, despite the US and Israeli attacks. However, he warned that continued pressure, including sanctions or a possible UN Security Council referral, could influence Iran’s future position.
He also said Iran continues to maintain its stated religious prohibition against nuclear weapons.
Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Rezaei said Iran had come close to reaching an agreement with Oman to address the situation but that the announcement was postponed. He said the agreement remains possible but may require wider regional approval before it is made public.
Qatar and Pakistan have been working to revive negotiations between Iran and the United States after the previous memorandum of understanding between the two sides expired last month.
The war began in late February when the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran. Diplomatic efforts have continued alongside military preparations, with regional mediators seeking a renewed framework for negotiations.
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