Iran rejects talks with the United States as Trump signals openness to dialogue

Wednesday 16 September 2026 - 10:59

Iran has rejected any immediate dialogue with the United States to end the ongoing war, despite US President Donald Trump once again saying that Washington remains open to discussions with Tehran.

Mohsen Rezaï, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, dismissed the possibility of negotiations under the current circumstances in a message posted Tuesday on X.

“Iran will not enter discussions until its conditions are met,” Rezaï said, responding to what he described as contradictory signals from Trump, who has alternated between ruling out negotiations and expressing a willingness to engage with Tehran.

Tehran sets conditions for negotiations

Trump had reiterated Monday that the United States remained open to talks with Iran.

In a post on Truth Social, the US president said he would decide whether Washington would engage in negotiations, while suggesting that Tehran was seeking an agreement quickly.

Iran, however, has laid out several conditions for any potential diplomatic process. Tehran is demanding an end to the war and to what it considers US aggression against Iran and its regional allies, including Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Iran is also calling for the lifting of the blockade imposed on its ports, full compensation for war-related damage, the removal of economic sanctions and the unconditional release of Iranian assets frozen abroad.

Conflict puts Strait of Hormuz at the center

The United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran on February 28, arguing that Tehran’s nuclear program posed an imminent threat.

Iran subsequently carried out strikes across the Middle East, saying it was targeting US military bases and interests, as well as locations it considered to have been involved in attacks against its territory.

Since then, Iran has maintained a blockade of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. The disruption has sent oil prices higher and increased pressure on the global economy.

The standoff between Washington and Tehran therefore extends beyond the military confrontation itself, with the continued uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz creating broader risks for energy markets and international trade.