Amid ongoing U.S. threats and successive warnings from President Donald Trump regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz—coupled with a massive U.S. military buildup at sea—Iran's First Vice President, Mohammad Reza Aref, stated that his country’s "enemies" are pleading for negotiations.
اضافة اعلان
In statements made on Tuesday, Aref declared: "Our armed forces are among the strongest in the world; we have defeated the aggressors. Now, they are begging us to negotiate over the Strait of Hormuz, but we must see to what extent they are willing to grant concessions."
The "Golden Phrase"
Aref further noted that the opposing side must utter what he called the "Golden Phrase," which is: "We will no longer attack Iran, and we will recognize all its international rights." He added, according to TASS News Agency, "We shall see what happens next."
Last week, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicated that Tehran had permitted "friendly nations"—including Russia, India, Iraq, China, and Pakistan—to pass through the Strait.
Trump’s Ultimatum
Conversely, President Trump has renewed his repeated warnings to Tehran, urging the reopening of the vital maritime strait, or else face "the destruction of the country" and a U.S. takeover of Kharg Island. Trump has set a deadline of April 6 for Iran to comply with U.S. demands and reach an agreement.
A few days ago, the U.S. President also asserted that Iranian negotiators were "begging" him for talks to stop the war.
Regional Escalation
Since February 28, the United States and Israel have launched intensive airstrikes on the capital, Tehran, resulting in the deaths of senior leaders, most notably the former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
In response, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a large-scale counter-operation, firing hundreds of missiles and drones toward Israel, several Gulf states, Jordan, and Iraq, claiming to have struck U.S. bases and interests. These Iranian threats against shipping have effectively paralyzed navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Mediation Efforts
Reports indicate that the U.S. side, via a Pakistani mediator, presented a 15-condition proposal to the Iranians to end the war. However, Tehran described the proposal as "unrealistic and unfair," claiming it contains unfeasible terms, while mediation efforts between the two parties remain ongoing.
