Iran Empowers Government for U.S. Talks as Strait of Hormuz Standoff Continues
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced that Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei granted the government authority for talks with the U.S., as indirect diplomatic efforts face a deadlock over terms.
Supreme Leader of Iran Mojtaba Khamenei has granted specific powers to his government regarding peace talks with the United States, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced on Monday. Pezeshkian stated that Tehran intends to resolve the issue through diplomatic dialogue.
According to reports, indirect talks mediated by Qatar have faced a deadlock over which nation should take the first concessionary step. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi noted that Tehran is holding intensive consultations via mediators, including Qatar and Pakistan, to reach a potential agreement on reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz and resuming negotiations with Washington.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghai stated that the core of the ongoing discussions centers on Tehran's proposed seven-step plan to end the conflict, which was initially presented in September and dismissed by U.S. President Donald Trump. Baghai emphasized that while the proposal has been streamlined, Iran's fundamental condition remains unchanged: talks on its nuclear program can only resume after all of Tehran's demands are met.
Amid regional tensions, China and Russia have voiced strong opposition to any potential resumption of military strikes in the Middle East. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged all parties to focus on political solutions during a meeting in Beijing with senior Iranian official Ali Bagheri Kani. Concurrently, the Russian Foreign Ministry described reports of possible military action against Iran as a major cause for concern, calling for enhanced diplomatic engagement.
