Senior Iranian lawmaker Ebrahim Azizi has said the United States must take five major confidence-building steps before any agreement can be reached with Iran, stressing that Tehran remains deeply distrustful of Washington.
Speaking in a televised interview, Azizi, who chairs the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, outlined the conditions under which Iran would continue indirect negotiations with the US. According to him, the talks are being mediated by Pakistan following the recent escalation between Iran, the US, and Israel.
Azizi claimed that during the second week of what he described as US-Israeli aggression, Washington sought a ceasefire and negotiations through Pakistani mediation. He argued that the US had initially planned to conclude the conflict within three days but was ultimately forced into ceasefire talks, which he described as evidence of Iran’s “decisive victory” on the battlefield.
The Iranian official said Tehran’s policy toward the US is fundamentally based on distrust and that Washington must first prove its intentions through concrete actions. He listed five key demands that Iran considers essential before negotiations can meaningfully progress.
According to Azizi, these measures include ending military operations on all fronts, especially in Lebanon, along with guarantees that future attacks will not occur. He also called for the removal of the naval blockade imposed on Iran, acceptance of Tehran’s security arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz, suspension of oil-related sanctions, and the release of Iranian assets frozen abroad.
Azizi stated that if these conditions are met, Iran would enter a 30- to 60-day negotiation period to discuss sanctions and other unresolved issues. Otherwise, he warned, no agreement would be possible.
His remarks came as indirect diplomatic contacts between Tehran and Washington continue under Pakistani mediation based on Iran’s proposed 14-point framework aimed at ending the conflict. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the discussions are focused on ending hostilities and do not include negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program or control of the Strait of Hormuz.
Azizi also argued that the US has few alternatives other than accepting Iran’s demands, claiming the recent 40-day conflict demonstrated Washington’s inability to secure a military victory. However, he expressed skepticism about whether the Americans would ultimately commit to any agreement, describing the confrontation between Tehran and Washington as deep-rooted and existential.
The lawmaker further revealed that Iranian forces had recently detected hostile drones over the country and responded decisively. He warned that any threat against Iran’s national interests or security would face a strong and “regret-inducing” response from the country’s armed forces.