Negotiations between Iran and the United States cannot begin unless Washington fulfills two preconditions, according to Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
Ghalibaf, a senior political figure in Iran and a reported potential lead figure in the Iranian delegation for upcoming talks expected to be held this weekend in Pakistan, stated that the conditions are essential before any diplomatic engagement can proceed.
Key Iranian demands
He said the first condition is the establishment of a ceasefire in Lebanon, while the second is the release of Iranian assets currently frozen abroad.
According to Ghalibaf, both demands are “non-negotiable” prerequisites for the start of formal negotiations.
Background to the dispute
The issue of frozen Iranian assets has been raised in previous rounds of indirect talks between Tehran and Washington, but this is the first time it has been explicitly framed as a formal precondition tied to regional ceasefire developments.
The statement comes amid ongoing regional tensions and renewed diplomatic activity involving Iran and its regional and international counterparts.
Maritime and regional context
Iranian state-linked sources also reported limited maritime activity following a declared ceasefire, with only a small number of Iranian vessels passing through key shipping routes. Meanwhile, a non-Iranian oil tanker reportedly transited the Strait of Hormuz recently, underscoring continued strategic sensitivity in the region.
