October 21, 2026
Tehran requires the end of sanctions to resume negotiations with Washington, and Pakistan is moving towards mediation
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stressed that any return to the negotiating table with the United States is conditional on ending what he described as the policy of pressure, threats and sanctions, in conjunction with diplomatic moves led by Pakistan to prevent renewed confrontation in the region.
Bezeshkian’s position came during his meeting, today, Tuesday in Tehran, with the Commander of the Pakistani Army, General Asim Munir, where he reiterated Washington’s demand to stop all forms of pressure before starting any new talks, indicating that Tehran “does not trust American policies,” in light of the continuing distance between the two sides despite efforts to keep the door to negotiation open.
For his part, General Asim Munir expressed Islamabad’s concern about the possibility of renewed war, expressing his country’s readiness to help settle differences through diplomatic means. The Pakistani army commander considered that entering into negotiations does not constitute “weakness or surrender,” but rather represents an opportunity to address problems away from the military option, praising the strength and capabilities of the Iranian people. This visit comes as an extension of the mediation role played by Islamabad between Tehran and Washington to reactivate political channels and contain the escalation.
In the same context, the Secretary of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council, Major General Mohsen Rezaei, received the Commander of the Pakistani Army, stressing that any amount of enriched nuclear materials will not leave Iran, and will remain inside the country as a “strategic asset and national wealth.” Rezaei confirmed that there is an Iranian consensus that any negotiations with Washington will not begin before the latter builds confidence and implements Iranian conditions.
At another stop on his tour, General Mounir met with the head of the Islamic Shura Council, Muhammad Baqir Qalibaf, who in turn stressed that the United States would not be able to regain Tehran’s confidence except by adhering to what he described as Iran’s “seven conditions.”
These official meetings culminate in a unified Iranian position that sets a strict negotiating ceiling based on stopping sanctions and pressures first, in parallel with continued Pakistani efforts to bring views closer and prevent the region from sliding toward a new military confrontation.
