Iran’s security chief, Mohsen Rezaei, has outlined a new set of stipulations aimed at concluding the ongoing conflict with the United States. In an exclusive interview, Rezaei confirmed that these conditions have been transmitted to Washington through Qatari intermediaries. He cautioned that Iran is now more battle-hardened than it was during the initial 40 days of the hostilities, which commenced in late February following coordinated US-Israeli strikes.
Rezaei adopted a combative tone, asserting that if the conflict continues, Iran will respond with greater force, utilizing more frequent and painful strikes. Although major combat operations have been paused for several months, both nations remain far from a diplomatic resolution. A memorandum of understanding signed on June 17, which had established a 60-day framework for peace, expired last month without renewal.
The collapse of this agreement has led to increased hostility, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, which currently remains effectively blocked by Iranian forces. Simultaneously, the United States continues to enforce a naval blockade on southern Iranian ports. These escalations, combined with Houthi control over key Red Sea shipping lanes—a critical route for Saudi oil exports—have pushed global oil prices above $100 per barrel in recent weeks.
Tehran’s demands for ending the war are wide-reaching. Rezaei specified that any potential agreement must include a comprehensive end to hostilities on all fronts, with a particular focus on Lebanon. Furthermore, Iran is demanding the release of billions of dollars in frozen assets, the lifting of the naval blockade on its ports, and a total cessation of US interference in Iran’s internal affairs. Additionally, Tehran seeks an end to American cooperation with groups opposing the Iranian revolution and a permanent halt to all US attacks on Iranian soil.
The security chief insisted that it is in Washington’s best interest to accept these terms, warning that military threats from President Donald Trump would not yield results and that Iran remains prepared for a decisive war. Echoing this stance, Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declared on Sunday that the Strait of Hormuz would stay closed until the US fulfills its commitments, stating that no negotiations can resume until American obligations are met.
When compared to the defunct June memorandum, the new conditions mirror several previous demands, including the release of funds and the termination of naval blockades. However, the June agreement had also included provisions for a $300 billion US-backed reconstruction plan, commitments from Iran to forgo nuclear weapons development, and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to safe passage. The previous accord also required the US to provide export waivers for Iranian crude, avoid new sanctions, and refrain from deploying additional forces to the region.
Analysts suggest that while the substance of these demands is not entirely new, the timing and delivery method are significant. Adel Abdel Ghafar, a senior fellow at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, noted that by bypassing previous channels and using Qatar to deliver terms publicly, Tehran is effectively placing the pressure back on Washington. He argued that Iran is betting on the political unpopularity of the war and hoping the upcoming US midterm elections in November will force President Trump toward a deal.
Rezaei rejected US accusations that Iran violated the earlier memorandum by targeting an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. He maintained that the strike was a retaliatory measure following American attacks on Bandar Abbas and a local surveillance facility. He also criticized the US for unilaterally withdrawing from a joint dispute resolution committee that had been established between Ghalibaf and US Vice President JD Vance.
Regarding Iran’s nuclear ambitions, the security chief noted that while Tehran could have technically exited the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in response to US and Israeli aggression, it has chosen not to. He emphasized that the country continues to adhere to a fatwa issued by the former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that prohibits the use of nuclear weapons. However, he warned that this policy could change if further sanctions are imposed or if the nuclear file is referred to the UN Security Council.
On the conflict in Yemen, Rezaei denied Iranian involvement and claimed that Tehran is willing to act as a mediator to help establish peace between Yemen and Saudi Arabia. He also dismissed rumors regarding a potential closure of the Bab al-Mandeb strait to exert further pressure on international markets. Meanwhile, the US government has warned its citizens in several nations—including Iraq, Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Qatar, Lebanon, Kuwait, and Jordan—to remain vigilant, citing a complex security environment and the potential for unforeseen escalation.
In response to the shifting landscape, President Trump returned to Washington, DC, on Saturday, cutting short a trip to the Camp David presidential retreat. Experts like Rob Geist Pinfold of King’s College London suggest that the White House may be taking the latest memo seriously, given the electoral urgency ahead of the midterms. Conversely, some officials, such as former Pentagon director David Des Roches, remain skeptical, arguing that the US is unlikely to view these conditions as a genuine opening, as they appear more like a demand for total surrender. The report also notes that the two sides are nowhere close to peace, while full-scale fighting has been paused for months. The report also notes that tohid Asadi, reporting from Tehran, described Rezaei’s remarks as part of the “two-sided, twofold message” Iran has maintained throughout the conflict – combining openness to diplomacy with continued preparations for war. The report also notes that here is what Rezaei told. The report also notes that he explained, with the US able to sustain the naval blockade and hold air superiority but unable to compel capitulation from Iran, both sides are at an impasse. The report also notes that iran, meanwhile, cannot break the blockade but “keeps enough asymmetric leverage to make things difficult for everyone”, he said.
