Iran toughens negotiating stance amid mediation efforts, sources say
Written by: Parisa Hafezi and Angus McDowall
DUBAI, March 24 (Reuters) – Iran’s negotiating stance has hardened sharply since the start of the war, its Revolutionary Guard has growing influence in decision-making and will demand significant concessions from the United States if mediation efforts lead to serious talks, three senior sources in Tehran said.
In any talks with the United States, the sources said, Iran would demand not only an end to the war but also concessions that are likely a red line for U.S. President Donald Trump: guarantees against future military action, compensation for wartime losses and formal control of the Strait of Hormuz.
They also said Iran would refuse to impose any restrictions on its ballistic missile program; The issue had been a red line for Tehran in talks when the US and Israel launched the attack last month.
MIXED SIGNALS ON NEGOTIATIONS
Trump said Monday that Washington had “very, very strong discussions” with Tehran more than three weeks after the war began, which Iran flatly denied.
Three senior sources said Iran was only holding preliminary talks with Pakistan, Türkiye and Egypt on whether the basis for talks with the United States on ending the war existed.
Although there are no direct talks between Iran and the United States, Egypt, Pakistan and Gulf countries are conveying messages, a European official said on Monday. A Pakistani official and a second source also said on Monday that direct talks to end the war could be held in Islamabad this week.
If such a meeting were held, Iran would send Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqir Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi to attend, three Iranian sources said, warning that any decision would ultimately rest with the hard-line Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
ISRAELI SOURCES SUSPICION DEAL POSSIBLE
Three senior Israeli officials also said on Tuesday that although Trump appeared determined to reach a deal, they viewed it as unlikely that Tehran would agree to US demands, which they believe would include an end to Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs.
Iran’s use of ballistic missiles and its ability to effectively close the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passes, have been its most effective responses to U.S.-Israeli attacks.
Analysts say he cannot agree to give them up without leaving himself vulnerable to further attacks.
Iranian strategists may be reluctant to rely on agreements with the United States and Israel after coming under attack following an earlier agreement last year, despite their involvement in then-existing talks. They also watched as Israel continued to attack following ceasefires in Lebanon and Gaza.
Senior Iranian sources said that internal concerns in Iran also limited Tehran’s room for maneuver in the negotiations.
These concerns included the growing influence of the Revolutionary Guard, uncertainty at the top of the system, the fact that new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has not yet appeared in photos or videos since his appointment, and the resistance in the war has not been publicly described.
(Reporting by Parisa Hafezi, writing by Angus McDowall, Editing by Alex Richardson)
