Iran Sends War-End Terms to Trump Via Mediators — Former Pentagon Official Says US May View Proposal as ‘Surrender’
Iran has conveyed conditions to the United States for re-engaging in negotiations aimed at ending the war, with the terms passed to Washington through Qatari mediators, according to Iran’s security chief.
Iran Seeks End to War
The terms for peace include a halt to the war on all fronts, the release of Iran’s frozen assets, and the lifting of the naval blockade. Some of these conditions were outlined by Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, in an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera on Saturday.
Qatar and Pakistan have been involved in efforts to facilitate a return to the U.S.-Iran negotiating framework.
“We are awaiting President [Donald] Trump’s response," the Security Chief said.
Rezaei stressed that it would be in the best interest of Washington to accept these terms. He also warned of Iran’s readiness for a “decisive war” and did not rule out the possibility of a new U.S. strike against Iran.
Despite the ongoing war, Rezaei revealed that Iran recently tested a multi-warhead anti-ship missile near a U.S. vessel or aircraft carrier. He added that Tehran is pursuing a new strategy aimed at accelerating the war’s end.
Iran has not decided to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) despite U.S. and Israeli attacks, Rezaei said, warning Washington’s actions "may push Tehran into withdrawing."
He said Iran’s nuclear doctrine remains unchanged and it continues to honor former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei‘s fatwa against nuclear weapons, though future sanctions or U.N. action could alter its stance.
Rezaei said Iran and Oman were close to announcing a Strait of Hormuz agreement, but the deal was shelved and may now require regional backing before being made public.
Trump Weighs Tougher Iran Measures
The proposed conditions for peace come at a time of heightened tensions between Iran and the U.S.
Iran’s Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, had earlier warned the U.S. of potential retaliation if it continued to pressure Iran through the Strait of Hormuz. Ghalibaf also cited a JPMorgan note saying oil markets could not be modeled amid disruptions, suggesting Iran already has leverage over the situation.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has been considering drastic measures against Iran, including potentially “blowing the entire nation up.” Trump’s options reportedly include “wiping Iran out, letting them rot economically, or making a deal.”
Former Pentagon official David Des Roches told Al Jazeera that Washington would likely view the proposed terms as a “surrender” rather than a serious opening for negotiations. He pointed to Iran dropping its earlier demand for war reparations as a sign of progress in negotiations.
"The first thing you notice is that he’s dropped the demand for reparations, which the Iranians had made at one point," he highlighted.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Below the Sky / Shutterstock