Iran Cuts Proposed Timeline to Two Days for New Peace Talks
Tehran argues the shortened window is a reasonable concession after Washington called Iran's preconditions outrageous.
By Leila Mansour ·
Iran proposed a two-day timeline on Monday to restart peace negotiations with the United States. The Foreign Ministry labeled this the most reasonable offer available, a sharp reduction from an earlier seven-day window.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei responded to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's criticism during a weekly press conference. Rubio had described some of Iran's conditions as outrageous and ridiculous. Baghaei questioned the logic of those remarks, asking if it was unreasonable for Iran to demand the lifting of what it called illegal US sanctions and a naval blockade before talks began. He added that the war should end on all fronts as part of the process.
The Iranian position includes requirements for Washington to halt hostilities and waive sanctions before formal discussions resume. Baghaei also addressed US pressure on Iraq. He stated that Washington's push for Baghdad to close most of its borders with Iran should not impact bilateral relations between the two Middle Eastern nations.
Baghaei dismissed a recent US military task force designed to restrict Iranian land trade. He characterized the move as a diversion following losses suffered by President Donald Trump's Republican party in the midterm elections.
Rubio spoke to reporters before departing for France to attend a G7 foreign ministers meeting. He reported no progress in the current diplomatic efforts, noting that while several countries are engaging with Iran and offering ideas, the US is not close to a breakthrough. The Secretary of State confirmed that President Trump prefers a diplomatic solution but acknowledged that Iranian demands remain a major obstacle. Rubio said Washington would act if American forces or regional shipping came under threat.
The proposal to shorten the timeline follows earlier discussions where Tehran insisted on specific preconditions. The current standoff involves US efforts to limit Iranian trade and diplomatic attempts to resolve the conflict.
