Iran sets four conditions for US deal, warns “Israel First” approach will fail

Iran has set four conditions for any agreement to be reached with the United States in the ongoing ‘Islamabad talks’.

The four conditions, as per Iran state media, include sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, full compensation for war damages, unconditional release of frozen assets, and a sustained regional ceasefire.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said a deal with the United States is possible if American negotiators adopt an “America First” approach, warning that talks would fail if they instead pursue an “Israel First” agenda.

In a post published on X on Saturday, Aref wrote: “If we negotiate in Islamabad with representatives of ‘America First,’ an agreement beneficial to both sides and the world is probable. However, if we face representatives of ‘Israel First,’ there will be no deal.”

“We will inevitably continue our defense even more vigorously than before, and the world will face greater costs,” he added.

The negotiations, dubbed the “Islamabad Talks,” between the US and Iran began on Saturday, marking the next critical step in efforts to solidify a fragile two-week ceasefire that halted 40 days of devastating war between Iran and the US-Israeli alliance just days ago, which had ravaged global energy supplies.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met US Vice President JD Vance ahead of the anticipated talks between Washington and Tehran.

The US delegation included special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, while Pakistan was represented by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

Sharif welcomed both sides’ willingness to engage and expressed hope that the dialogue would pave the way for durable peace.

The US-Israeli aggression on Iran began on February 28 with airstrikes that assassinated senior Iranian officials and commanders, including the Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.