Iran has stepped up its diplomatic efforts as US President Donald Trump suggested the United States could resume large-scale strikes against Iran.
US news site Axios quoted a US official as saying that US Central Command (CENTCOM) was preparing for the resumption of major military operations in Iran and was only waiting for orders from Washington. On Thursday, Trump told reporters that the United States may have to “destroy” the rest of Iran, adding that people “will know soon enough” if he acts.
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Tehran’s intensified diplomatic efforts come after Iran shot down two US reconnaissance drones near the island of Qeshm in the Strait of Hormuz, which the US struck earlier this week. Iran says it will retaliate if the United States resumes larger strikes.
What diplomatic efforts is Iran engaging in?
Iran on Thursday offered the United States a new nuclear and peace proposal through Qatari mediators, which will only be discussed once Washington meets Tehran’s seven demands, a senior Iranian official told Reuters. The United States is currently reviewing the proposal, Reuters reported.
Iran has made compliance with its seven demands a condition for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and resuming peace talks, particularly on its nuclear program. The demands include, among others, lifting sanctions on Iran, unfreezing Iranian assets and ending the US naval blockade of its ports in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
The country has also strengthened ties with Russia, with its top security official, Mohsen Rezaei, traveling to Moscow for talks on Thursday. During this visit, Rezaei said: “On the issue of diplomacy, we announced seven conditions to the Americans. Until they respect our seven conditions, we will not open the Strait of Hormuz or engage in negotiations.”
Meanwhile, the United States has insisted that an agreement on Iran’s nuclear capability must be part of any ceasefire agreement before broader peace negotiations can resume.
How is Iran deepening ties with Russia?
On Thursday, Rezaei met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin to deliver a message from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. Iranian state media did not provide details on the content of the message.
Rezaei called it an “extremely important exchange,” according to comments reported by the Iranian embassy, but also did not provide further details.
However, the Financial Times reported that Russia had previously agreed to supply Iran with 90 helicopter launchers for precision-guided missiles, despite needing its own weapons for the war in Ukraine. The newspaper cites a Russian defense manufacturer’s production schedule for 2024 and 2025, which it reviewed, showing that an order for helicopter launchers is assigned a code used to refer to Iran in Russian defense documents.
Relations between Russia and Iran have deepened since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and during the US-Israeli war against Iran which saw the two countries become the most heavily sanctioned in the world. Iran supplied Shahed drones, which Russia modified and used massively against Ukraine.
In exchange, Russia also allegedly helped Iran develop supersonic cruise missiles, sold it Verba shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles, and shared potentially relevant nuclear weapons information with Tehran.
“This indicates Russia’s willingness to continue supplying Iran despite its own war demands and with far less concern about Western objections than in the past,” Nicole Grajewski, a non-resident fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told the FT.
In early October, Putin said Russia was ready to participate in mediation to end the war.
Footage released by the Kremlin shows its foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, and Russian military intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov attending a meeting with Iran’s security chief alongside Putin.
The meeting also strengthened economic ties between Iran and Russia.
“During the meeting with Mr. Vladimir Putin, discussions were held regarding the construction of gas pipelines connecting Russia and Iran,” Rezaei said, Iranian state television reported.
He said the pipelines would address Iran’s gas shortages and make it easier to sell Russian energy to neighboring countries.
Tehran said Iranian natural gas refineries were hit during the most intense phase of US-Israeli strikes on Iran earlier this year, which lasted 40 days.
Separately, the Russian Foreign Ministry advised citizens against traveling to Iran “in light of the continuing risks of further escalation around Iran.”
How does Iran negotiate with regional leaders?
In the most intense fighting of the war, Iran struck bases in Gulf countries housing U.S. military assets, as well as civilian and energy facilities and infrastructure.
Senior Iranian officials have repeatedly warned that any state helping the United States target the Islamic republic would constitute a “legitimate target” if U.S. attacks resume.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held phone calls with several Gulf leaders on Thursday, including UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
They discussed regional developments as well as diplomatic efforts for stability in the region, according to Araghchi’s Telegram channel.
Araghchi spoke with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud about efforts to improve security and stability in the region, according to the Saudi Foreign Ministry.
Araghchi also discussed de-escalation efforts with the foreign ministers of Kuwait and Turkey.
In another call, Araghchi spoke with Qatar Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani about coordination to reduce tensions, the Qatari Foreign Ministry said.
Sheikh Mohammed stressed his support for efforts to ensure freedom of maritime navigation.
In a statement, Oman’s Foreign Ministry said the security of passage through the Strait of Hormuz was one of the main topics of discussion during a call between Araghchi and Oman’s foreign minister.
Iran continues to tightly control shipping lanes through the strait, where several ships have been damaged in recent days. It granted exemptions from maritime transport restrictions to Iraq and Qatar, the Gulf region, as well as India and China.
What does Trump say?
Although his Republican Party was defeated in this week’s US midterm elections – largely due to public anger over the war with Iran and resulting rising energy prices – US President Donald Trump has refused to rule out further strikes against Iran.
On Thursday, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that he may have to “destroy the rest” of Iran.
Former Iranian diplomat Hadi Afghahi told Al Jazeera that Tehran could ease the path to a settlement if the United States also showed flexibility. He said Trump “really doesn’t want to go to war because another war would cost him more.” However, the American president’s next decision is unpredictable, observers believe.
Afghahi warned that Trump “is still surrounded by a group of hawks,” including the secretaries of Energy and Treasury.
Trump, however, has shown a willingness to engage in diplomacy. Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani discussed diplomatic efforts to ease regional tensions in a phone call with Trump on Friday, according to Qatar’s Emir Diwan.
The leaders reviewed international diplomatic efforts, including mediation efforts led by Doha to support negotiations in recent weeks, with the aim of reaching “a comprehensive agreement that ends the crisis”, the Diwan said in a statement.
How has Iran reacted to Trump’s rhetoric?
Tehran has warned it will retaliate on a larger scale than it has done so far if the United States resumes the war. He also said the talks would become unfeasible.
Iranian officials have said Iran has the capability to strike beyond the Gulf using Iranian-made weapons.
On Thursday, a spokesperson for the Supreme Advisor to the Commander of the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said: “In the event of further aggression, any country or force that helps America attack Iran may be a legitimate target of the Islamic Republic.” »
Iranian state media Tasnim News reported: “Our missile bases have a suitable range to target the Zionist regime and US bases,” adding that “Iran’s response to possible further aggression by enemies will not be geographically limited.”
Iran also warned that cables, data centers and artificial intelligence (AI) facilities in the Gulf region could be attacked if war with the United States breaks out again.
What strikes have there been in recent days?
Ahead of the midterm elections, the United States said it had carried out “defensive strikes” on Iran’s Qeshm Island and Bandar Lengeh in the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Navy says at least seven oil tankers caught fire after running into mines while trying to transit the Strait of Hormuz using “unauthorized routes” near Oman this week.
Two oil tankers caught fire and were immobilized after hitting mines on Friday, the IRGC said. They were attempting to cross the waterway “with the support of the aggressor and the US terrorist army,” the IRGC added.
Control of the Strait of Hormuz has been one of the main stumbling blocks in negotiations to end the war in Iran since it began in February.
Tehran has sought to limit traffic on this strategic waterway, which normally carries around a fifth of the world’s oil reserves.
The United States also imposed a blockade on Iranian ports and escorted oil tankers across the strait.
Maritime organizations have not confirmed the latest incidents.
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