The key facts

  • Indirect talks between Iran and the US are ongoing via Qatar and Oman; the sides have exchanged conditions
  • The process is overseen by Iran's Supreme National Security Council
  • The MP does not expect war before the US congressional and Israeli elections, but allows for a resumption of fighting

Exchange of conditions through mediators

Indirect talks between Iran and the US continue with mediation from Qatar and Oman, Yaqub Rezazade, a member of Iran's parliamentary committee on national security and foreign policy, said in an interview with the ILNA agency on Saturday. According to him, both sides have conveyed their conditions through mediators: 'We have presented a set of conditions, and the other side has also presented a set of conditions. Now we are waiting to see whether our conditions will be accepted by the Americans.' He added that the talks are under the control of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, and the issues under discussion are coordinated with the council.

Assessment of the risk of a new conflict

Rezazade called unfounded the predictions of an imminent new conflict, including those based on betting markets and reports of a possible preemptive strike by Iran. He said he does not expect a new war before the US congressional elections and the elections in Israel, but acknowledged that a resumption of hostilities remains possible. According to him, Iran will not launch a preemptive strike but will respond in the event of an attack, and Tehran's military potential, air defense, and naval forces, he claimed, have significantly improved compared with the two previous rounds of clashes.

Context of the June agreement

Reports of new contacts emerged after Iran and the US reached an agreement in Islamabad in June on a cessation of hostilities and the start of talks with mediation from Pakistan and Qatar. The sides were supposed to continue the talks, but tensions later resumed due to disputes over the implementation of the agreements and ongoing military activity in the region. Qatar and Oman maintain diplomatic contacts with both Tehran and Washington, seeking to prevent a new escalation.