Iran Blocks U.S. Talks Until Its Seven Demands Are Met, Pakistani General Told

Updated 20 min 29 sec ago

Arab News Pakistan

October 21, 2026 10:26

Tehran told Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir that Iran will not negotiate with Washington until its demands are satisfied, Iranian media reported on Tuesday, despite Islamabad’s mediation efforts.

During a meeting in Tehran, President Masoud Bezhakian and Munir discussed mediation attempts and regional developments, according to the Iranian news agency Nour News.

Pakistan serves as a key mediator between the United States and Iran. Previous diplomatic outreach culminated in a temporary peace agreement signed in June, but the arrangement quickly collapsed, leading to renewed hostilities between the two nations.

The Iranian official highlighted seven conditions that must be met before talks can resume, including an end to the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, the lifting of sanctions on Iranian oil exports, and a cessation of hostilities across the region. These conditions were presented as prerequisites for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

A separate statement from Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary‑General of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, echoed this stance. Rezaei affirmed that there would be no negotiations with Washington until Tehran’s demands are fulfilled and reiterated that all enriched nuclear material will remain inside Iran, consistent with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei’s position against exporting weapon‑grade uranium.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance noted this month that Iran must substantially reduce its uranium enrichment capacity to satisfy American requirements and end the eight‑month war between the two countries.

Israel, the United States, and several Western allies have long accused Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons, pointing to enrichment levels of around 60 %, which far exceeds civilian needs and approaches weapons‑grade thresholds. Iran continues to deny any intention to acquire nuclear weapons.

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