CAIRO: Iran has told Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, that it will not resume talks with Washington until its demands are met, casting fresh doubt over efforts to end the eight month conflict between the two countries, according to Arab News.
According to Iranian news agency Nour News, President Masoud Pezeshkian discussed Pakistan’s mediation efforts and regional developments with Munir during a meeting in Tehran on Tuesday. Munir also met Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.
During the talks, Iranian officials stressed that Washington must meet seven conditions announced last month before Tehran would consider reopening the Strait of Hormuz. These include ending the US blockade of Iranian ports, lifting sanctions on Iranian oil exports and stopping hostilities across the region.
Mohsen Rezaei, secretary-general of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, delivered a similar message, saying negotiations could not begin until Tehran’s demands were fulfilled.
Rezaei also said Iran would retain its enriched nuclear materials, repeating the position of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei that uranium enriched to weapons-grade levels should not be sent abroad.
Pakistan has played a key role in trying to bring Washington and Tehran back to the negotiating table. However, an earlier temporary peace agreement, known as the Islamabad memorandum, quickly collapsed as fighting resumed just weeks after it was signed in June.
Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance has said Iran must sharply reduce its uranium enrichment capacity to meet American demands and end the war.
The United States, Israel and other Western countries have long accused Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons, citing its uranium enrichment to 60 percent, far above levels commonly needed for civilian use. Tehran denies seeking nuclear weapons.
With both sides holding firm to their positions, Pakistan’s latest mediation effort faces a difficult path toward renewed dialogue and lasting peace.
