The Wall Street Journal, citing US officials, reported that the United States and Israel removed Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf from “kill lists” for four to five days so they could participate in negotiations.
The negotiations themselves, as the post notes, remain in question. Araqchi insisted in the latest statement that Iran has no intention of negotiating, but the Arab mediators say privately that Tehran “shows great flexibility” and is willing to listen to the proposals.
However, the two sides are so far making demands that “significantly exceed” those discussed before the war, the Wall Street Journal writes. Iran demands compensation for damages, the closure of American bases in the region and guarantees of non-aggression, and the United States demands that the Islamic Republic abandon uranium enrichment and its nuclear program, as well as reduce its missile program.
On March 23, Trump announced that the United States was negotiating with Iran and was close to reaching an agreement to end the war. Iran denies any negotiations. At the same time, sources from various newspapers indicate that Tehran is making demands that are not consistent with the American position, which was even before the start of the war. The United States, in turn, delivered to Iran a 15-point plan to end the war – stipulating that Tehran completely abandon its nuclear program, as well as abandon support for its proxy groups in the region and limit the number and range of missiles.
Trump said, in a press conference at the White House on March 24, that Iran would abandon its nuclear program and wanted to make an agreement. Meanwhile, he said that all of Iran’s leaders have “disappeared” and “no one knows who they are talking to,” but that the United States is negotiating “with the right people” (who were not identified).