Iran tells Russia talks with US without guarantees won't end conflict, report says

Iran tells Russia talks with US without guarantees won't end conflict, report says

Iran’s ambassador to Moscow Kazem Jalali has said Iran and Russia have discussed strengthening military and security cooperation, with Tehran stressing that talks with the US could not end the conflict without credible guarantees, according to Mehr News Agency.

Jalali said that during a three-hour meeting, Major General Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, briefed Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tehran’s strategic priorities, including accelerating construction of the Rasht-Astara railway and completing the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).

Jalali said Rezaei conveyed Tehran’s position that negotiations with Washington could not end the conflict without credible guarantees, citing repeated "US violations of commitments" during previous diplomatic engagements, Mehr reported.

He said Rezaei also explained Iran’s response to a letter from US Vice President JD Vance, stressing that dialogue alone could not provide a basis for ending the war.

According to Jalali, Rezaei cited several instances in which Iran had come under attack during diplomatic initiatives, including negotiations in Oman and Geneva, as well as engagements surrounding the Islamabad MoU.

The ambassador said Tehran had made acceptance of its seven strategic conditions by Washington a prerequisite for any new diplomatic initiative. He added that Moscow understood Iran’s position and agreed that commitments had to be implemented.