Iran tells Russia talks with US without guarantees won't end conflict, report says

Iran's ambassador to Moscow, Kazem Jalali, has revealed that Iran and Russia have discussed enhancing their military and security cooperation. However, Jalali emphasized that without credible guarantees, talks with the United States cannot bring an end to the conflict, according to Mehr News Agency. During the three-hour meeting, Major General Mohsen Rezaei, Iran's Supreme National Security Council secretary, briefed Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tehran's strategic priorities.

These priorities include speeding up the construction of the Rasht-Astara railway and finishing the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). Rezaei conveyed Iran's stance that negotiations with Washington could not bring an end to the conflict without credible guarantees, pointing to repeated US violations of commitments during previous diplomatic engagements, as reported by Mehr.

Rezaei also explained Iran's reaction to a letter from US Vice President JD Vance, asserting that dialogue alone cannot provide a basis for ending the war. Jalali further stated that Rezaei cited several instances where Iran faced attacks during diplomatic initiatives, such as talks in Oman and Geneva, as well as engagements related to the Islamabad MoU.

The ambassador emphasized that Tehran has made acceptance of Washington's seven strategic conditions a prerequisite for any new diplomatic initiative. He added that Russia understands Iran's position and agrees that commitments must be implemented before any progress can be made.