Iran has laid out conditions for restarting talks with the United States as regional fighting intensifies, with Saudi forces intercepting a Houthi ballistic missile aimed at Riyadh and the Yemeni group claiming attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, told Al Jazeera that Tehran had conveyed its demands to Washington through Qatari mediators and was waiting for the U.S. to act before negotiations could resume.
Rezaei said Iran had seven conditions, including an end to the war on all fronts, the release of frozen Iranian assets and the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports. He said Washington must implement Tehran’s conditions before negotiations begin.
Rezaei also warned that Iran was prepared for further military confrontation and said U.S. bases could face heavier strikes if Washington launched another attack. He said Tehran remained committed to its existing nuclear doctrine but was considering whether to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty depending on U.S. actions.
The diplomatic push comes as fighting between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthis escalates. A Saudi-led coalition said air defences intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched toward Riyadh and thwarted attacks targeting Bish, Taif, Farasan and Yanbu.
The Houthis claimed attacks on what they called sensitive targets across Saudi Arabia using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones. The group also said it targeted Saudi Aramco facilities in the Red Sea port city of Yanbu. The Saudi coalition did not report whether the attacks caused damage.
The Riyadh attack was the first reported Houthi strike on the Saudi capital since the latest hostilities began in July. The group has targeted cities, military bases and energy infrastructure after declaring a naval blockade against Saudi shipping.
The escalation has heightened concerns around regional shipping and energy infrastructure. The U.S. State Department warned Americans in nine Middle Eastern countries to exercise caution, saying Saudi-Houthi hostilities could escalate rapidly.
Source: Investing.com
