Iran’s Latest Conditions to End Conflict with the US

Core Iranian Conditions for Ending Hostilities

According to Rezaei’s interview with Al Jazeera, Tehran’s latest demands mirror several aspects of an expired June memorandum of understanding while introducing updated public positioning. The conditions outlined by the Iranian security chief include:

• An end to the war on all fronts, including specifically in Lebanon.
• The release of billions of US dollars in frozen Iranian funds.
• An end to the naval blockade on Iranian ports.
• An end to US interference in Iran’s internal affairs and cooperation with opponents of the revolution.
• An end to all US attacks on Iranian territory.

"It is in Washington’s interest to accept these conditions," Rezaei said, adding that United States President Donald Trump’s threats will not achieve results and that Tehran remains prepared for a decisive war.

Strategic Shifts and Delivery Channels

Adel Abdel Ghafar, a senior fellow at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, told Al Jazeera that while the substance of Tehran’s demands bears similarities to the dead June Islamabad memorandum of understanding, the delivery method marks a clear shift. By utilizing Qatari mediators and going public, Iran is placing the onus directly back onto Washington.

Both sides remain at an impasse, Abdel Ghafar explained, noting that while the US sustains air superiority and naval blockades, it cannot compel Iranian capitulation. Iran, meanwhile, relies on asymmetric leverage to disrupt maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.

Stance on the Strait of Hormuz and Nuclear Program

Iran’s parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf reinforced the official stance on Sunday morning, stating that the critical Strait of Hormuz will remain closed. According to Ghalibaf, the waterway will not reopen until the US fulfills its commitments and recognizes the legitimate rights of the nation.

On the nuclear front, Rezaei stated that while Tehran continues to abide by a religious decree from former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei banning nuclear weapons, future actions remain uncertain. He noted that ongoing sanctions or a potential UN Security Council referral could change Tehran’s calculus regarding the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Washington’s Response and Political Pressures

The US has not yet formally responded to Iran’s new conditions, though the State Department warned citizens in several regional nations—including Iraq, Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Qatar, Lebanon, Kuwait, and Jordan—to exercise heightened vigilance due to a complex security environment. Meanwhile, President Trump cut short a weekend trip to Camp David to return to Washington, DC.

Rob Geist Pinfold, a lecturer at King’s College London, told Al Jazeera that the administration may take the memo seriously as the White House looks toward the US midterm elections in November. However, David Des Roches, a former Pentagon director of Arabian Peninsula affairs, cautioned that Washington is unlikely to view the terms as a serious opening, describing them initially as akin to surrender, though he noted that Tehran’s apparent abandonment of war reparations signifies some movement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Iran’s main demands to end the conflict? According to security chief Mohsen Rezaei, Tehran demands an end to the war on all fronts including Lebanon, the release of frozen funds, the termination of naval blockades, and a halt to US interference in internal affairs.

Why is the Strait of Hormuz closed? Iran has closed the critical waterway in response to ongoing hostilities and a US blockade of its southern ports, insisting it will remain shut until American commitments are fulfilled.

How is the international community mediating these talks? Iran has conveyed its latest conditions to the United States through Qatari mediators, shifting away from the defunct June memorandum of understanding negotiated in Islamabad.