Iran has hardened its negotiating stance amid the ongoing war with the United States and Israel. Senior officials in Tehran have signalled that any move towards peace talks would hinge on sweeping concessions from Washington. The demands are likely to be unacceptable to US President Donald Trump, Reuters reported, citing three senior Iranian sources.At the core of Tehran’s position is a firm insistence that any negotiations must first end the war, while also securing guarantees against future military action, compensation for wartime losses, and formal control over the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.Iran has also drawn a clear red line around its ballistic missile programme, refusing to discuss any limitations — a position that has remained unchanged even as backchannel diplomacy intensifies.Despite Trump’s claim on Monday that Washington had held “very, very strong talks” with Tehran more than three weeks into the conflict, Iranian officials have publicly denied any direct engagement. Instead, the three sources said Iran has only held preliminary discussions with intermediaries including Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt to assess whether conditions exist for meaningful negotiations.A European official corroborated that no direct talks have taken place, noting that Egypt, Pakistan and Gulf states have been relaying messages between the two sides. Separate sources in Pakistan indicated that direct negotiations to end the war could potentially be hosted in Islamabad later this week.If talks do materialise, Iran is expected to send Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, although the final decision-making authority would rest with the hardline Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), whose influence has grown significantly since the conflict began.Israeli officials, however, remain sceptical about the prospects of a breakthrough. Three senior figures said they doubt Tehran would agree to US demands, which they believe would include curbs on both its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes — conditions Iran views as existential threats to its security.Iran’s negotiating posture is closely tied to its military strategy. Its deployment of ballistic missiles and its ability to threaten closure of the Strait of Hormuz — a chokepoint for roughly a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows — have been among its most effective responses to US-Israeli strikes. Analysts say relinquishing these capabilities would leave Iran vulnerable to future attacks.Trust deficits are also shaping Tehran’s approach. Iranian strategists remain wary after coming under attack following an earlier agreement last year, even as negotiations were ongoing. Continued Israeli military operations in Lebanon and Gaza after ceasefires have further deepened scepticism about the durability of any potential deal.Domestic dynamics within Iran are adding another layer of complexity. The growing clout of the Revolutionary Guards, uncertainty surrounding the leadership of newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei — who has yet to make a public appearance — and a strong internal narrative of wartime resilience are all constraining Tehran’s room for compromise.Meanwhile, the conflict continues to widen. Israel’s Defence Minister said on Tuesday that its military intends to control southern Lebanon up to the Litani River, underscoring the escalating regional stakes even as diplomatic efforts struggle to gain traction.
