Iran's president sets conditions for US talks as Hormuz standoff drags on

Tehran sets its conditions

Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian said on Friday, 9 October, at a summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in Turkmenistan, that talks with Washington can succeed only if they are free of pressure and threats. In the same speech he argued that sanctions against Iran also harm trade, energy and order in the region. On Monday he had already said that negotiating with the United States to end the war, which began in February with Israeli and American strikes, made no sense. He described Washington as an "enemy" that daily practises assassinations, sanctions and pressure and does not keep its commitments. His Friday remarks set out the terms for any resumption of dialogue.

Dialogue only makes sense and has a chance of succeeding if it rests on mutual respect and reciprocal commitments, and if it is free of any pressure and any threat.

Talks stalled since February

The United States and Israel began strikes on Iran in February, and more than seven months later the talks between Washington and Tehran appear to be at an impasse. A ceasefire was concluded in April and a memorandum of understanding was signed in June. Officials from both countries met in late September in New York, on the margins of the UN General Assembly. Iran then proposed a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days, in exchange mainly for the lifting of US economic sanctions. Donald Trump rejected that proposal but left the door open to indirect negotiations, without ruling out a resumption of strikes on Iran.

Hormuz and new sanctions

Washington has intensified its economic pressure on Tehran by imposing new sanctions on Iran's aviation sector. On the ground, a lull has been observed in recent weeks, as the United States has not struck Iran since 1 September. Ships are nonetheless regularly targeted in the Strait of Hormuz. The strategic waterway remains the central point of disagreement, and both governments continue to oppose each other over it. Threats of new strikes are issued regularly, which keeps the standoff unresolved.

Trump's position ahead of the vote

On Thursday, 8 October, Trump announced that he excluded attacking Iran before the US legislative elections of 3 November, while saying Washington had "productive discussions" with Tehran. His announcement came the day before Pezeshkian set out his conditions. Pezeshkian also stressed in the same CIS speech that a negotiation carried out under pressure has no value. His words were a direct answer to the threats coming from Washington.

A negotiation conducted under the threat of force is not a negotiation.

The Iranian president's position leaves the two sides far apart. Washington continues to expand sanctions, while Tehran refuses to negotiate under the threat of force.