Details of the New Round of Talks and the Composition of Iran’s Negotiating Team
WANA (Feb 17) – The Secretary of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations stressed that the Islamic Republic of Iran will under no circumstances negotiate over its defensive capabilities, emphasizing that a country’s vital and existential interests are not negotiable and that Iran will not hesitate when it comes to defending itself.
Seyed Jalal Dehghani Firoozabadi, assessing the initial round of talks in Muscat and the new round scheduled to be held in Geneva, said that during the first meeting a general framework and the core demands of both sides were exchanged, and red lines were clearly outlined.
He added that the parties then returned to their respective capitals to conduct consultations and reach internal conclusions before entering the next phase of discussions.
Referring to the roughly ten-day interval between the two meetings, he noted that during this period the two sides either conveyed their views to one another or finalized their own internal assessments, which will be exchanged in the upcoming talks.
According to Dehghani Firoozabadi, the negotiations are being conducted indirectly, with messages possibly delivered either verbally or in written form through an intermediary.
He described the composition of Iran’s delegation as an indication that the talks are entering a more detailed stage, explaining that the presence of political, legal, economic, and technical experts shows that the negotiations will now address a broader range of issues with greater specificity.
Reiterating Iran’s principled position, the Secretary of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations said that Tehran’s primary objective in these talks is the lifting of sanctions, and that the scope of negotiations is strictly limited to the nuclear issue. Any attempt to expand the agenda beyond this framework, including discussions on Iran’s defensive or missile capabilities, is not on the table.
He underlined that defensive capability is a fundamental pillar of national security, stressing that no country is willing to negotiate over its territorial integrity, national security, or means of defense. From Iran’s perspective, historical experience and the regional security environment clearly demonstrate that maintaining and strengthening defensive capabilities is an undeniable necessity.
Dehghani Firoozabadi concluded by stating that Iran is approaching diplomacy with caution and clear-eyed realism. While Tehran is making every effort to prevent conflict and views diplomacy as part of that effort, it will not show the slightest hesitation in defending itself, and considers its vital national interests to be absolute red lines.
Iran Launches “Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz” Naval Drill in Strategic Waterway
WANA (Feb 16) – Iran has begun a new naval exercise in one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, signaling both operational readiness and strategic messaging. The Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the start of a combined drill titled “Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz” in the strategic […]
