Politics
Iranian state media reported that Iran’s security chief, Mohsen Rezaei, met Russian President Vladimir Putin at a time when Iranian negotiators have been holding meetings with mediators to discuss proposals for ending the war with the Unite
Iranian state media reported that Iran’s security chief, Mohsen Rezaei, met Russian President Vladimir Putin at a time when Iranian negotiators have been holding meetings with mediators to discuss proposals for ending the war with the United States. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he would soon decide whether to resume military operations against Iran. According to Iranian state media, Mohsen Rezaei also delivered a message from Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, to President Putin. Following the meeting, Rezaei said they had discussed key regional issues and held important talks on the post-war situation and regional security arrangements.
In a written statement on Wednesday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said there should be “not the slightest desire” to yield to the United States. The main issues at the centre of peace efforts include the future status of the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the possible resumption of negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program. A senior Iranian official said earlier this week that major differences remained between Washington and Tehran. Rezaei further stated: “We have told them that we have presented seven conditions to the Americans regarding diplomacy. Until they implement our seven conditions, we will neither open the Strait of Hormuz nor hold negotiations.”
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he would soon decide whether to resume the war against Iran. The war, jointly launched by the United States and Israel in February, was officially aimed at preventing Tehran from developing nuclear weapons. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said: “Do we want to go further to completely eliminate Iran’s nuclear program and ensure that this never happens again?” He added: “If possible, I would prefer not to destroy the rest of the country, but perhaps I will have to.”
“You will find out very soon,” he said.
Following a meeting with his national security advisers, Trump said the United States had achieved “everything we wanted to have control over” regarding Iran. “Now we will make a decision,” he added. The U.S. news website Axios, citing a senior American official, reported that the U.S. military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) was accelerating preparations for the possible resumption of large-scale military operations in Iran, although it had not yet received any new orders from Washington.
According to Iranian state television, Mohsen Rezaei said that the construction of gas pipelines from Russia to Iran was also discussed during his meeting with President Putin. He said the project aims not only to help Iran address its domestic gas shortages but also to facilitate the sale of Russian gas to neighboring countries. Iran is one of the world’s major natural gas producers. Despite its substantial reserves and production capacity, the country has faced gas shortages for a long time. The war that began with the United States and Israel in February has further aggravated the situation. According to Tehran, during the most intense phase of the war, which lasted approximately 40 days, the two countries targeted key Iranian infrastructure, including natural gas refineries. Russia and Iran are among the countries facing the highest levels of U.S. sanctions. Relations between Moscow and Tehran have grown closer since Russia launched its full-scale military offensive in Ukraine in 2022.
