Tehran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced on Monday that his administration is prepared to navigate several potential paths regarding the current regional instability, though he strongly expressed a preference for negotiations conducted with dignity and authority. Speaking during a high-level meeting in Tehran with the senior commanders of the Faraj police force, the President emphasised that while Iran possesses significant military capabilities, these battlefield successes must be solidified through strategic diplomacy to ensure the national interests and rights of the Iranian people are fully realised. He outlined three distinct scenarios for the nation’s future: entering into honourable negotiations, remaining in a precarious state of neither war nor peace, or continuing down a path of direct confrontation. Pezeshkian stressed that the most logical and rational choice remains a diplomatic approach that is firmly backed by military strength and internal security.
During the session, which included a performance report on the police force’s role during recent security challenges, President Pezeshkian highlighted the necessity of reinforcing Iran’s internal security structure. He called for the continued development of equipment and the expansion of the Faraj grassroots network to safeguard the country against domestic threats. This internal focus is viewed by the administration as a prerequisite for maintaining a strong position on the international stage. By ensuring a stable domestic environment, the President suggested that the Iranian government can better project authority when engaging with foreign powers, particularly as the geopolitical landscape in West Asia and the Gulf region continues to shift rapidly.
In a parallel address, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei defended the country’s recent diplomatic proposals as both reasonable and generous. Speaking at a press conference, Baghaei argued that Tehran’s primary objective is to secure its legitimate rights while fostering broader regional and global stability. He dismissed accusations of aggressive behaviour, asserting that Iran acts as a responsible power that is fundamentally opposed to international bullying. According to the spokesperson, the text submitted by Iran aimed to protect the welfare of the region, but he lamented that the United States continues to cling to what he described as a series of unreasonable and one-sided demands.
The spokesperson further detailed a specific list of requirements that Tehran considers essential for a lasting de-escalation of hostilities. These demands include an immediate end to the ongoing war, the lifting of economic blockades, a cessation of maritime piracy, and the release of Iranian assets currently frozen in international banks due to American pressure. Additionally, Iran is seeking formal assurances for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and a commitment to establishing long-term security in both the Gulf region and Lebanon. Baghaei accused Washington of persisting with a “maximum pressure” policy that hinders the potential for a peaceful resolution and ignores the legitimate framework for stability proposed by Tehran.
However, the prospects for an immediate breakthrough appear dim following a sharp rebuke from United States President Donald Trump. In a post on his Truth Social platform late Sunday, Trump expressed his intense displeasure with the response received from Iranian representatives via diplomatic channels in Islamabad. The American President characterised the Iranian reaction to the U.S. proposal for de-escalating regional hostilities as totally unacceptable. This public dismissal marks a significant setback in the indirect negotiations that had been mediated through Pakistan, signaling that the gap between Washington’s expectations and Tehran’s demands remains vast as both sides continue to exert pressure in the diplomatic and military arenas.
