Tehran — A senior Iranian official has reiterated the country's position that it will not agree to holding negotiations with the United States until Tehran's conditions are met. Mohsen Rezaee, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, made the remarks in a social media post, reaffirming Iran's longstanding demand that Washington meet unspecified prerequisites before any dialogue can proceed.
The statement, carried by Iranian state media and confirmed by diplomatic observers, marks the latest in a series of positions taken by Iranian leadership regarding relations with Washington. Rezaee, a former Revolutionary Guard commander and one of the country's most hardline figures, said the Islamic Republic would not entertain talks unless Tehran's conditions were first satisfied.
While the official did not enumerate the specific conditions in the post, Iranian officials have previously cited a range of demands as prerequisites for engagement. These have included the lifting of economic sanctions, the return of the United States to the 2015 nuclear deal from which former President Donald Trump withdrew in 2018, and the removal of what Tehran describes as hostile policies toward the Islamic Republic.
The United States has consistently maintained that it is ready for unconditional talks with Iran, a position that has repeatedly been rebuffed by Tehran. State Department officials have said Washington remains open to diplomacy but insists that Iran must first demonstrate a willingness to engage constructively.
Relations between Iran and the United States have been tense for decades, marked by the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the seizure of the US embassy in Tehran, and a series of confrontations over nuclear program concerns, regional influence, and sanctions. The 2015 nuclear deal, known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, briefly eased tensions before its collapse following the US withdrawal.
Iranian officials have signaled in recent months that they are willing to consider diplomacy, but only on their own terms. The Supreme National Security Council, which Rezaee leads, serves as the body responsible for formulating and coordinating Iran's national security policy, including its approach to foreign powers.
The remarks come amid ongoing indirect negotiations mediated by other parties, as well as periodic exchanges between Iranian and American officials through third-country channels. However, each time such talks appear to gain momentum, Iranian leadership issues new statements reinforcing the position that preconditions must be met first.
Diplomatic analysts say the latest declaration underscores the deep mistrust that continues to characterize the relationship. With both sides holding firm on their respective positions — the United States calling for immediate dialogue and Iran demanding concessions first — the prospect of a near-term breakthrough appears increasingly remote.
The international community has watched the exchange closely, particularly given the role that Iranian nuclear program developments and regional proxy activities play in broader Middle East security calculations. Any return to formal negotiations would require a significant shift in the current stalemate, or a new diplomatic initiative from external actors seeking to de-escalate tensions.
For now, the message from Tehran is clear: talks are off the table until Iran's demands are addressed. Until then, the two nations remain on a path of mutual pressure and reciprocal warnings, with no immediate sign of a change in course.