Khaberni - Three high-level sources in Tehran told Reuters on Tuesday that Iran has hardened its negotiating stance since the beginning of the war due to the increasing influence of the Revolutionary Guard on the decision-making process, stating that Tehran will demand major concessions from the United States if mediation efforts lead to serious negotiations.
The sources mentioned that Iran will not only demand an end to the war in any talks with the United States but also concessions that are likely to constitute red lines for U.S. President Donald Trump such as guarantees against any future military action, compensation for losses incurred from the war, and official control over the Straits of Hormuz.
They added that Iran will also refuse to negotiate any restrictions on its ballistic missile program, which Tehran considered a red line during the ongoing talks when the United States and Israel launched an attack on it last month.
On Monday, Trump said that Washington had already conducted "very serious talks" with Tehran more than three weeks after the outbreak of the war, but Iran denied this.
The three sources said that Iran had only conducted preliminary talks with Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt to explore whether there was a basis for talks with the United States to end the war.
On Monday, a European official said that Egypt, Pakistan, and Gulf countries are conveying messages between Iran and the United States although there are no direct negotiations between them.
