Iran: Diplomacy Advances Cautiously as Trustee Fears 'Strike Trap'

As US-Iranian negotiations advance with Tehran delivering its response to the latest American proposal, Iranian leadership remains cautious regarding the diplomatic track, amid fears that the US initiative may serve as a cover for a surprise military strike.

A source stated that Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, informed several council members that the content of the new US offer and Iran’s response had been discussed with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

According to the source, Rezaei believed that the US proposal partially met Iran’s seven conditions, though the US had reservations about certain clauses. However, he emphasized the need to avoid excessive optimism, citing past experiences with the administration of President Donald Trump. The source quoted him expressing concern that the offer, despite its apparent positivity, might merely be a cover for a new strike.

He added that an agreement, should a positive US response be received, could be announced during a meeting between chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and US Vice President JD Vance.

Parallel to the negotiation track, the source confirmed that Tehran is acting on the possibility that Trump could launch a surprise attack at any time, including immediately following the closing of polling stations in the US midterm congressional elections.

He noted that Iranian forces remain on high alert, and units tasked with launching missiles and drones have been provided with a new target bank and ordered to respond immediately to any attack without awaiting further instructions from leadership.

Tehran has requested that Moscow and Beijing communicate with the Americans and work to provide certain guarantees, while reiterating its refusal to remove highly enriched uranium from Iranian territory, alongside its willingness to agree to reduce enrichment levels under international supervision.

In this context, Tehran informed the Russian and Chinese sides that it has not made a decision to change its nuclear doctrine, but warned that being subjected to a nuclear strike could prompt it to reconsider its calculations.

This development coincided with Reuters reporting that Qatari mediators expect to continue receiving responses from the US and Iran within 36 hours.

Reuters also quoted a senior Iranian official as saying that Tehran and Washington remain far from reaching an agreement to end the war, adding that Iran would not accept “excessive demands” put forward by Washington.

The Iranian official added that mediators are working closely to narrow the gaps, stressing that “Tehran’s conditions must be met if the United States wants to reopen the Strait of Hormuz,” and noting that nuclear talks can only begin after that.

For his part, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the Supreme Leader had granted additional authority to conduct talks on issues he previously considered “non-negotiable.”

Pezeshkian pointed out that discussions are currently underway and that “certain steps” are being taken in this regard.

He warned that the outbreak of war would benefit neither Iran, nor the region, nor the world as a whole, affirming that Tehran seeks to resolve the issue through dialogue.

Meanwhile, the Iranian regime has fostered a state of mobilization, bringing forces to the brink of readiness to receive a nuclear strike, following a prominent US media leak suggesting Trump might resort to destroying the fortified Mount Fasa facility, believed to house highly enriched uranium near Isfahan. State television broadcast a warning to Iranians, including steps to deal with and prevent a nuclear strike.

Several Iranian entities have issued a series of threats against the United States and its partners in the region and beyond, including hints at targeting U.S. interests in the United Kingdom, Italy, Greece, Romania, Cyprus, Israel, and NATO, as well as on U.S. soil.

This was accompanied by field clashes between Iranian and U.S. forces, marked by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) claim of shooting down two U.S. “Lusac” drones in Bandar Khamir, Hormozgan Province, hours after it asserted it had “taken control of two U.S. MQM 170 drones” on Qeshm Island.

While the IRGC stated that three oil tankers suffered accidents, fires, and collisions with mines while transiting the Strait of Hormuz “via illegal routes,” U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) carried out strikes on Iranian Qeshm Island off the coast of the strait. These attacks are part of a series of limited strikes conducted by the command over recent weeks in response to aggressive Iranian moves in the region.

Amid skepticism about the possibility of achieving a breakthrough that would restore a serious diplomatic track between the Americans and Iranians, Trump affirmed that he does not want to kill many Iranians but added that if forced to do so, they would. He reiterated his claim of complete control over the Strait of Hormuz, alleging that oil prices are recording historic lows.

In separate remarks, Trump did not rule out resuming military operations against Iran, but he stressed that he is not in a hurry to make a decision on the matter.

In an interview with Axios, Trump said the United States is talking with the Iranians and that the talks are proceeding well, suggesting that Tehran is more eager than ever to reach an agreement. However, he accused the Iranian side of stalling and prolonging negotiations, asserting that Washington will ultimately take action, whether through reaching an agreement or not.

This came as the Israeli public broadcaster reported that Israeli assessments indicate Trump may order the resumption of the military campaign against Iran within a few days. The report noted the Israeli military’s reservations about pushing outgoing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu toward joining the anticipated U.S. campaign, citing “contradictions between Israeli and American objectives.”

Meanwhile, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majid Al-Ansari, whose country is assisting alongside Pakistan in mediation efforts between Tehran and Washington, affirmed that “there is very high coordination among regional leaders to reach a solution to the crisis and avoid the scourge of escalation.” Al-Ansari stated that “freedom of navigation is a non-negotiable matter, and we reject any threat to Qatari and other tankers. We are working to reach an agreement capable of building trust and enhancing peace in the region.”