In response to repeated US pleading delivered to Iran, the Islamic Republic has set three conditions through intermediaries, to be implemented in sequence:
- Resolving the war and bringing a complete halt to it across the region, along with the necessary guarantees
- Talks regarding navigation and transit through the Strait of Hormuz
- Discussions on nuclear-related issues and matters
This means that, contrary to claims made by some critics of Iran’s negotiating team who say “they already gave up the nuclear issue,” there has essentially been no discussion about it so far. Iran has placed the nuclear file at the final stage of its conditions, while the first and second stages could take a long time to materialize — or may never be fulfilled at all.
Unlike the United States, which insists on quickly moving into detailed nuclear discussions, Iran has divided the negotiations into three broad phases and rejected entering into specifics at this stage. Washington must first accept this framework before even entering phase one, after which extensive talks would begin before any detailed discussions take place.
In addition to recognizing the importance of time as a strategic factor and seeking to prolong the process contrary to US expectations, Iran reportedly has another major objective. Tehran believes that if Washington achieves results on the nuclear issue during the first phase, it may no longer treat the later phases seriously. Iran is in no hurry; therefore, if the U.S. is truly serious about negotiations, it must first fulfill the prerequisites so Tehran can assess Washington’s commitment.
