Iranian Vice President: "No Agreement If U.S. Insists on 'Israel-First' Approach"

Iran has stated that a ceasefire agreement will not be possible at the negotiations in Islamabad, Pakistan, if the United States insists on an "Israel-first" approach.

On the 9th (Korean time), numerous oil tankers and cargo ships remain stranded in the Strait of Hormuz area, as shown on the real-time vessel tracking website MarineTraffic.

Mohammad Reza Aref, Iran's First Vice President, said on X (formerly Twitter) on the 11th, "If we negotiate in Islamabad with a 'U.S.-first' delegation, it will be possible to reach an agreement that benefits both sides and the world." He added, "However, if we face an 'Israel-first' delegation, there will be no agreement. In that case, we will continue our defense even more strongly than before, and the world will face a higher price."

Local media have also expressed skepticism about the outlook for these talks. Iran's Mehr News Agency, citing international relations expert Dr. Mehdi Hanaalizadeh, reported that "the possibility of an agreement is low, as the United States is not accepting Iran's conditions."

Dr. Hanaalizadeh explained, "The United States is unwilling to continue the war, but at the same time, it is impossible to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by military means. The gulf between U.S. demands for denuclearization and Iran's refusal to negotiate on nuclear issues is so wide that the chances of success are extremely slim."

Dr. Hanaalizadeh also noted, "None of the four preconditions that Iran claimed the U.S. accepted have actually been implemented, which is why the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked. The current negotiating atmosphere is tense, and bilateral talks are not possible; instead, the negotiations are taking place in the form of a three-party meeting with Pakistan present."

He continued, "Since the U.S. Vice President is scheduled to return home within a few hours, it is highly likely that the Iranian delegation will also leave Pakistan. Given the recent developments, the prospects for both an agreement and continued war have diminished, and it is likely that the current state—neither war nor agreement—will continue for the foreseeable future."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.