Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian apprised military commanders on Tuesday that regional nations have concluded that the US military presence in the Gulf “has failed to ensure their lasting security,” calling for a sweeping overhaul of Iran’s defence structure even as his negotiators held talks in Qatar aimed at ending the war with Washington.
“Relying on America for security has been an unrealistic and ineffective notion,” Pezeshkian said, according to a statement from Iran’s presidential office.
He warned that “the enemy has acquired new technologies and tools” and ordered the armed forces to pursue “the technological edge and enhancing defence capabilities” through deeper engagement with universities, scientific centres, and knowledge-based companies.
The remarks, delivered to senior military commanders, came on the same day Iranian negotiators were in Doha for talks with Qatari mediators, in sessions that an informed source cited by Iran’s Tasnim news agency described as “good overall” and said had “led to progress in the overall negotiations.”
But the same source struck a note of deep caution. “It should not be forgotten that the United States is known as an unreliable party, and for this reason, Iran is looking at issues with great caution,” the unnamed source said.
At the centre of the financial negotiations is a proposed release of up to USD 24 billion in frozen Iranian funds, according to reports from IRGC-linked outlet Tasnim News, citing a source close to the negotiating team.
Iran has proposed that half, around USD 12 billion, be made accessible immediately upon the announcement of a memorandum of understanding, with the remaining amount transferred over a subsequent 60-day negotiation period.
Discussions over access to the initial tranche and easing transfer-related restrictions were among the key issues raised during Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf’s recent visit to Qatar.
The draft MoU under discussion reportedly includes a 60-day ceasefire extension, the possible reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and a framework for continued negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme. However, major disagreements remain unresolved — particularly over sanctions relief, the release of frozen assets, and US demands for strict limits on Iran’s nuclear activity.
A central sticking point is Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile. At the start of the conflict, Iran was believed to hold around 440 kg of uranium enriched to 60 per cent purity, a short technical step from the weapons-grade 90 per cent threshold. President Trump has insisted the material must either be “immediately” handed over to the United States or destroyed in coordination with Iran.
US officials have adopted the blunt negotiating phrase “No dust, no dollars”, signalling that Iran will receive no financial benefit from any agreement until its uranium cache is eliminated. Iranian officials have pushed back, insisting that uranium-related negotiations can only begin after a formal document ending the conflict is first signed.
On the diplomatic front, Trump has urged Gulf leaders to join the Abraham Accords following any potential US-Iran agreement, according to sources familiar with his recent calls with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, and Bahrain, a sweeping regional realignment push that would reshape the Middle East’s political architecture if it gains traction.
Pezeshkian also used Tuesday’s address to praise Iran’s military for its political restraint during the conflict.
“This professional, responsible approach based on national interests is considered a valuable asset for the country and the system,” Pezeshkian said, thanking commanders for their “commitment to professional duties and avoidance of political and partisan issues.”
