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Iran demands US action, says it will not accept commitments on paper
Iran says it will require practical steps from the United States before entering a new phase of diplomacy, rather than relying on written commitments. Ali Baqeri, deputy secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said Tehran believes Washington derailed previous negotiations, casting doubt on whether another round can begin without action.
Baqeri referred to four rounds of talks over the past 18 months, which Iran says were disrupted by hostile actions and breaches of commitments. He also said a recent visit to Moscow by council secretary Mohsen Rezaei was intended to deliver a message from Iran’s leader to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In short
- Iran wants action from Washington before a new diplomatic phase.
- Tehran says four rounds of talks were derailed.
- An Iranian official also discussed a message conveyed to Putin.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Iran’s position can be defended as a response to its view that earlier negotiations were derailed and commitments breached: written assurances alone may not rebuild trust or prevent a repeat. Requiring practical steps before entering a new phase could give Tehran evidence of US intent and make diplomacy more credible to its public and institutions.
The case against
The US could argue that demanding action before talks begin risks creating a deadlock, since each side may expect the other to move first and the practical steps Iran seeks may be disputed. Starting negotiations on the basis of written commitments could instead provide a structured way to clarify terms, verify compliance and build confidence over time.
Explained simply
Iran and the United States have been in dispute for years over issues including Iran’s nuclear programme and sanctions imposed by Washington. Diplomatic talks have sought ways to address those issues, but past negotiations have stalled amid mutual accusations that commitments were not kept.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council is a senior body that helps set the country’s security and foreign policy. Ali Baqeri is one of its officials, while Mohsen Rezaei is its secretary; Russia, led by President Vladimir Putin, has ties with Tehran and has sometimes played a diplomatic role. The dispute matters because renewed diplomacy could affect regional security and relations between Iran and Western countries.