US-Iran exchange indirect messages; Tehran reviewing American proposals

Tehran — Iran has confirmed that indirect messages are being exchanged with the United States through mediation by Pakistan and Qatar, while Tehran reviews Washington’s proposals for talks.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Pakistan and Qatar are acting as mediators through which messages are being conveyed. He said Iran was reviewing US proposals for negotiations, but adherence to Iran’s preconditions was essential for any talks.
Baghaei said Russia was playing a constructive role on Iran’s nuclear file, although formal mediation remained with Pakistan and Qatar. He described developments in the Strait of Hormuz as a direct consequence of US and Israeli attacks on Iran since February 28, adding that the current US approach would not restore security.
Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Mohsen Rezaei said Washington’s response to Tehran’s seven conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz was insufficient. He said the US had contacted Iran through Pakistan, Qatar and Iraq over the past two months, while Iran had conveyed its seven conditions nearly two weeks ago.
According to Rezaei, the US accepted some conditions while others remained unclear. As Washington had already sent its response, Tehran was no longer in the process of replying.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had earlier said that under a plan prepared through Qatari mediation, Tehran could reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days through a phased US response, followed by the restoration of shipping and final negotiations. Iran’s demands include an end to hostilities, the release of frozen Iranian assets, the lifting of sanctions on oil exports and an end to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports.