US Sets Two Conditions for Iran Talks: Hormuz Access and IRGC-Backed Mandate

The United States is reportedly seeking to restart negotiations with Iran following an earlier round of talks held in Islamabad but has placed two key conditions before any new engagement begins. According to diplomatic sources cited in media reports, Washington has indicated that progress toward a fresh dialogue would depend on specific political and security assurances from Tehran. The development comes amid ongoing tensions and attempts to revive stalled diplomatic communication between the two countries.

One of the primary conditions reportedly set by the United States is the full and unrestricted reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy shipping route. The US has also taken a position of reciprocity, suggesting that if Iranian actions restrict the movement of ships and tankers through the strait, similar restrictions could be applied in response. The stance reflects Washington’s insistence on ensuring freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most strategically sensitive maritime corridors.

A second condition involves the authority of the Iranian negotiating team. The US has reportedly insisted that any delegation engaging in talks must have full approval from senior regime officials, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), to finalise agreements. Reports suggest Washington is seeking assurance that all understandings reached in discussions would be binding and endorsed by Iran’s key political and military leadership, rather than being limited to partial or contested internal mandates.

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Meanwhile, reports indicate a growing internal divide within Iran’s leadership structure. The tensions are said to be between the country’s political leadership, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and the IRGC. According to claims cited in the reports, disagreements emerged during previous discussions, with IRGC-linked officials allegedly limiting the authority of the political delegation involved in negotiations held in Pakistan.

Diplomatic sources suggest that both sides are now considering a possible return to talks in Islamabad later this week or early next week, although no final date has been confirmed. Officials from Iran and Pakistan have indicated that discussions are ongoing regarding scheduling, but there is no official confirmation from the United States regarding the next round of negotiations. The uncertainty reflects the fragile and evolving nature of the diplomatic process.

The latest developments follow an earlier round of US-Iran discussions in Islamabad that ended without a breakthrough, marking the first direct engagement between the two sides in more than a decade. The talks were also described as the most senior-level contact since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution. While expectations remain cautious, both sides have reportedly left the door open for further dialogue, even as significant political and strategic differences continue to stand in the way of a comprehensive agreement.

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