Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran
Tehran, Sep 15: A top Iranian security official stated early on Tuesday that Iran will not engage in negotiations with the United States unless its specific conditions are fulfilled.
Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, made these remarks in a post on the social media platform X. His statement came in direct response to comments made on Monday by US President Donald Trump, who claimed that Tehran wanted to make a deal "quickly and badly" and indicated that Washington could resume talks.
"The failing Nation of Iran wants to make a deal, quickly and badly. I will determine whether or not the USA will choose to engage -- The concept of which we are open to," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Rezaei dismissed the overture, stating: "Don't get distracted by the US president's mixed signals -- from 'no negotiations' to 'we're ready to talk.' The stakes around oil and the straits have changed. Damage control won't stop what's coming. No talks until Iran's conditions are met. Period!"
On June 18, the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at ending the war in the region across all fronts, including Lebanon, according to reports from the Xinhua news agency. Under the MoU, both nations were scheduled to hold negotiations within a 60-day period—which concluded on August 17—to reach a final agreement. However, the fate of those talks remains uncertain following a series of recent escalations.
The diplomatic standoff coincides with escalating incidents in regional waters. Two fishing boats were targeted in a drone attack off Iran's southern coast on Monday night, leaving multiple fishermen missing. Ahmad Nafisi, Hormozgan province's deputy governor, stated that the attack occurred off the port city of Kargan near Larak Island, and search and rescue operations are currently underway.
Earlier, the Navy of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reported that a super oil tanker named "EL GAIA" exploded and caught fire after hitting naval mines while attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz via a "forbidden" route. According to Sepah News, efforts to contain the blaze were unsuccessful, engulfing the entire vessel. The IRGC emphasized that warnings had been issued regarding the illegal route and that the strait remains closed and under Iranian naval control.