Iran ready for talks with US, but sets conditions first
Iran has expressed willingness to hold talks with the US, but says Washington must first accept its key preconditions.
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu ) - Amid efforts to reduce the ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States, a new initiative has emerged regarding peace talks. Iran has proposed to the United States to resume talks within two days. However, Tehran has also placed some conditions before Washington for this. Iran says that to open the way for talks, the US must first take the initiative to lift sanctions, end the naval blockade, and stop military action on all fronts.
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, made this proposal at his weekly press conference on Monday. He said that resuming talks within two days was the most practical way to resume negotiations. He questioned how it could be wrong to make demands before negotiations begin.
Response to the remarks of the US Secretary of State
Iran's proposal comes after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's comments, in which he described some of Iran's conditions as absurd and ridiculous. Responding to this, Baghaei said Iran's offer to start talks within two days was the most reasonable proposal.
Previously, Iran had proposed a seven-day deadline to resume talks. At that time, Tehran demanded that the US halt military action, end the naval blockade, and provide sanctions relief. Now, Iran has reduced the deadline for resuming talks from seven days to just two.
The issue of US pressure on Iraq was also raised
At the press conference, Ismail Baghaei also accused the US of exerting pressure on relations with Iraq. He claimed that Washington was pressuring Iraq to close most of its borders with Iran.
Baghaei said such pressure should not affect relations between Tehran and Baghdad. He also described the US military task force aimed at restricting Iran's land trade as a diversion.