Talks with US possible if it aligns with Iran’s terms : Tehran

Iran has ruled out any immediate negotiations with the United States, asserting that talks will take place only when it aligns with Tehran’s “will” and after Washington fully abandons any hostile intent toward the Iranian people.

Lt Col Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam Al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, delivered a sharp message on Wednesday, saying there would be no return to normalcy unless the US drops what he described as aggressive thinking.

“Until it is our will, nothing will return to normal… Our first and last word was, is, and will be this: people like us will never negotiate with the likes of you,” he said, according to Tasnim news agency.

The remarks come amid reports that the United States has presented a 15-point proposal to Iran aimed at de-escalating the ongoing Middle East conflict, which has begun to weigh on the US economy, according to a report by The New York Times citing unnamed officials.

Tensions between Washington and Tehran have sharply escalated since February 28, when US and Israeli forces carried out strikes on targets across Iran, including in Tehran, resulting in damage and civilian casualties. Iran retaliated with strikes on Israeli territory and US military installations in the region.

While the US and Israel initially described the attacks as “preemptive” measures against Iran’s nuclear programme, both countries later indicated that curbing Tehran’s regional influence ,and potentially triggering a change in leadership, were among their broader objectives.

Against this backdrop, Iran’s latest stance signals a hardened position, casting further doubt over the prospects of any near-term diplomatic breakthrough.