Tehran: Iran will not negotiate with the United States or reopen the Strait of Hormuz until Washington fulfils seven conditions set by Tehran, Iranian security chief Major General Mohsen Rezaei said after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
Rezaei met Putin at the Kremlin on Thursday and delivered a message from Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Sayyid Mojtaba Khamenei, according to Iranian state news agency IRNA.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Rezaei said Putin had strongly condemned the US and Israeli military strikes against Iran, including attacks on its nuclear facilities.
“Until the Americans fulfil our seven conditions, neither will the Strait of Hormuz be opened, nor will there be any negotiations,” Rezaei said.
Iranian broadcaster Press TV, citing a source, also reported that Tehran did not consider diplomatic engagement worthwhile unless all seven conditions were implemented simultaneously.
The seven conditions were not detailed in the statements cited in the report.
Putin offers support to end US-Iran war, says Rezaei
Rezaei said Putin had assured him that Russia was prepared to make every possible effort to end the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran.
“Mr Putin said he will do everything he can to help bring the war to an end,” Rezaei said, according to Press TV.
The meeting comes amid heightened tensions in West Asia following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Rezaei’s remarks indicate that Tehran is not prepared to resume negotiations or restore traffic through the Strait of Hormuz until its stated conditions are met.
Russia and Iran discuss gas pipeline cooperation
The two leaders also discussed energy cooperation, including a proposal to construct gas pipelines connecting Russia and Iran.
Rezaei said the proposed infrastructure could help Iran address domestic gas shortages while enabling it to sell Russian gas to neighbouring countries.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held telephone conversations with his counterparts in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman as regional diplomatic efforts continued.
The latest developments come as the United States weighs its next steps in the conflict. The precise nature of Iran’s seven conditions and Russia’s proposed role in any diplomatic process were not specified in the statements cited by Iranian media.
