Iran-US Indirect Talks Continue Through Qatar and Oman, Iranian Lawmaker Says

TEHRAN, Oct 17: Indirect contacts between Iran and the United States are continuing through mediation by Qatar and Oman, with both sides having presented conditions for further engagement, an Iranian lawmaker said Saturday, amid persistent tensions between Tehran and Washington.

Yaqoub Rezazadeh, a member of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, told the ILNA news agency that Tehran and Washington had communicated their respective conditions through the mediators.

“We have presented a set of conditions, and the other side has also presented a set of conditions. We are now waiting to see whether the conditions we announced will be accepted by the Americans,” Rezazadeh said.

He said the contacts were being overseen by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and that the issues under discussion were being handled with the council’s approval.

Rezazadeh dismissed speculation about an imminent new conflict between Iran and the United States, describing predictions based on betting markets and reports of a possible preemptive Iranian attack as unfounded.

He said he did not expect another war before the US congressional elections and elections in Israel, although he acknowledged that renewed fighting remained possible.

The lawmaker said Iran would not launch a preemptive attack but would respond if attacked. He also claimed that Iran’s military, air defense and naval capabilities had improved significantly compared with the previous two rounds of fighting.

His remarks reflect Tehran’s stated position as diplomatic efforts continue to prevent another escalation. However, the comments do not establish that Washington has accepted Iran’s conditions or that a formal negotiating agreement has been reached.

Qatar and Oman have continued diplomatic engagement with Tehran and Washington as regional countries seek to prevent a renewed confrontation.

The latest reported contacts follow an understanding reached between Iran and the United States in Islamabad in June, aimed at ending hostilities and creating a basis for further negotiations, with Pakistan and Qatar involved in mediation, according to the account.

Further progress, however, remains uncertain amid disagreements over implementation and continuing military activity in the region.

Neither the Iranian lawmaker’s remarks nor the reported exchange of conditions confirms that a new agreement is imminent.