Tehran Responds to Washington's Proposal and Excludes Nuclear Issues for Now: We Are Ready for a Diplomatic Solution

The spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Ismail Baqaei, said on Sunday that Tehran has responded to the American proposal it received last week, noting that it "resembles previous proposals and focuses on the nuclear file, while Tehran wishes to focus on Hormuz." Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, emphasized that the strait will only be opened if "Tehran's conditions are met."

Baqaei added: "We did not address the nuclear file in the recent discussions, and the allegations of our agreement to inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency are baseless."

He pointed out that there are additional points in Tehran's response to the American proposal that still need to be communicated to the United States.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had said earlier on Sunday that Iran is ready to reach a "fair solution" with the United States.

He added that Tehran "is still serious about diplomacy and a peaceful solution, and hopes that the United States will adopt a path of wisdom and rationality," but he reiterated that if Washington moves towards military action, "we are ready."

Economic pressures on Iran have intensified as the war enters its seventh month, with inflation continuing to rise to nearly 90% alongside a decline in the currency, amid a suffocating American blockade.

Iranian media reported Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf as saying that the Strait of Hormuz "will not be reopened unless Iran's conditions are met." He added that the United States "can no longer procrastinate to buy time," according to him.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Iran "has effectively abandoned any plans to acquire nuclear weapons," affirming that he "will make a decision on it soon."

Trump added, in statements to reporters, that the United States will reach an agreement with Iran "either the easy way or the hard way."

The Iranian response to Washington's proposal came amid escalating economic pressures on Tehran as the war enters its seventh month, with inflation continuing to rise to nearly 90% alongside a decline in the currency, amid a suffocating American blockade preventing the export of Iranian crude, while oil continues to flow through the Strait of Hormuz.

This mix creates intense pressure even on a system accustomed to sanctions and economic hardships, while the diplomatic process with Washington to reach an agreement remains stalled, according to "Bloomberg."

These pressures are significant as they may force Iran to choose between making concessions in an attempt to revive peace talks or escalating a conflict that is already damaging its economy.

The statements of the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, Mohsen Rezaei, confirmed the existence of significant internal pressures, as he said on Saturday that the country is going through one of its "toughest phases," emphasizing the importance of coordinating efforts among various institutions and supporting the government in managing the current situation.

Rezaei pointed to the course of negotiations, affirming Tehran's "seriousness" in continuing them, and added that the Supreme National Security Council is "ready to provide whatever support and cooperation is necessary in economic files to help manage the current circumstances."

An Iranian official in Tehran told "Bloomberg," speaking on condition of anonymity to speak freely, that the economic situation in Iran is "extremely painful, but the country is adapting to it."

He added that Tehran is preparing for a new American bombing campaign, which may be larger than the previous one, but it "has the ability to respond," according to him.