Iran has told America that final talks will not take place until 5 important conditions are met. Technical talks continue in Doha, while ‘prepare for war’ warnings raise tensions in Hormuz and across the Middle East.
Doha/Tehran: The world, standing on the cusp of the Middle East, has at present reached a very dangerous point. Iran has shown its tough stance amid the ongoing back-channel talks in Doha by giving a direct ultimatum to the global superpower America (US). Speaker of Iran’s Parliament and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagheri Ghalibaf has bluntly said that if Washington does not stop its manipulation and does not immediately agree to its five basic demands, then this last thread of talks will also be broken. Iran has made it clear that it is definitely at the peace table, but its forces are fully prepared to enter the battlefield.
Secret diplomacy in Doha: Mediators running around behind closed doors
After the recent high-level closed-door meeting between US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian chief negotiator Mohammad Bagheri Ghalibaf in Switzerland, the next center of diplomacy has become Qatar’s capital Doha. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari confirmed that the delegation comprising US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi were not sitting directly across from each other. Qatari officials are working behind the scenes as mediators to draw up documents between the two sides, paving the way for future high-level meetings. But meanwhile, a statement from Iran has acted as ammunition in this entire process.
Trap of ‘Article 13’: What are those 5 conditions of Iran? Who shocked Washington!
Iranian chief negotiator Ghalibaf made it clear by appearing live on state television that there will be no discussion on the final agreement with the US until the US fully implements the obligations set under ‘Article 13’ of the former Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The five major demands that Iran has placed on Qatar’s table are very strict:
- Immediately implement a complete ceasefire on the ongoing military attacks in Iran and Lebanon.
- Removal of the US naval blockade affecting international trade and the Iranian border.
- Gradually reopening the strategically important Strait of Hormuz to ships.
- Ending all stringent sanctions on the export of Iranian crude oil, petroleum products and their derivatives.
- Immediately unfreeze billions of dollars of Iran’s funds frozen (seized) in global banks.
Ghalibaf has clearly warned that only when all these steps start on the ground and continue, Iran will move forward for the next round of talks.
The maze of the Strait of Hormuz: Will the world’s ‘lifeline’ be stopped?
The most explosive center of this entire tension is the ‘Strait of Hormuz’, through which a large part of the world’s oil trade passes. Iran has asserted its full sovereignty over this strategic waterway. “These are our territorial waters,” Ghalibaf said in a strongly worded statement via Press TV. He warned that the temporary exemption from toll fees given under the MoU is valid only for 60 days, after which Iran will start collecting tax (toll) on foreign ships passing through it. On the other hand, America is adamant on keeping this global route open at all costs, due to which the possibility of direct military confrontation between the two armies in the waterway has increased considerably.
Why is the US ambassador in Doha? What is the new strategy being made?
US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are also present in Doha. However, according to Qatar he has not met directly with Iranian officials. They are discussing regional issues and diplomatic options. The technical talks include expert level officials from the US side and Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi from the Iranian side.
‘Peace or destruction?’-Ghalibaf’s threat that shook the world
Defense and diplomatic experts around the world are worried that if the ongoing technical talks in Doha fail, a regional war could break out in the Middle East that would devastate the entire world economy. Ghalibaf’s last statement points towards this dire crisis. He said in a very cold and harsh tone in the live interview: “We are definitely talking at the moment, but Washington should know this very well… If these talks are not implemented on the ground, then we are fully prepared for war and will respond accordingly.”
Will there be a way out through talks or will the conflict increase?
At present, both America and Iran want to keep the path of dialogue open, but both have different priorities. While America is concerned about regional security and its interests, Iran is demanding relief from sanctions and reducing economic pressure. The technical talks in Doha may decide in the coming days whether the two countries will move towards an agreement or the tension will once again turn into a confrontation. At present, Iran’s message is clear – first fulfill the promises, only then further talks will take place. Now the entire world’s eyes are on the White House to see whether America accepts these conditions of Iran and backs down or whether this diplomatic deadlock will push the world towards a new and destructive world war.