Mohsen Rezaei acknowledged a shift in the US’s diplomatic tone towards Iran, indicating a possible negotiation. (Pic Credit: ANI)
His remarks mark the first public response from an Iranian official to Washington’s diplomatic outreach, even as US President Donald Trump continues to claim that Tehran is keen to negotiate. Iran’s senior security official Mohsen Rezaei on Saturday claimed that the United States had significantly softened its approach towards Tehran in a letter sent by Vice President JD Vance , describing the shift in tone as a sign of Iran’s victory.
The proposal suggests holding direct negotiations under Vance’s leadership, with Iran’s nuclear programme included in the discussions from the outset, according to The New York Times. Earlier, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera on Saturday that Tehran had examined the communication and viewed Washington’s outreach as a “positive step” towards dialogue. He also said one of his aides had travelled to Doha for consultations with mediators. “If the enemies once again launch military or terrorist attacks, it is the armed forces of the Islamic republic and the Iranian nation that will determine the time and conditions for their end,” Khamenei said. “There are talks, they want to talk, they keep talking,” the US president said, adding, “We have time, frankly.”
The letter, addressed to Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, was delivered through Qatari mediators on Sunday.