Iranian lawmaker Fada-Hossein Maleki said on Friday that the United States has sent messages indicating interest in negotiations, but Tehran has no plans to engage.
He told the outlet Didban Iran that “the remarks of the Supreme Leader about negotiations with the US are the final word,” adding that “we tried every path, but in the end it led to war and the wall of distrust only grew higher.”
Maleki said messages had arrived “through different channels,” but insisted Iran does not view Washington as a reliable counterpart. “The Americans want to dictate their positions. We want negotiations that secure our rights, not talks that follow their script,” he said.
Preconditions at the heart of the standoff
Maleki said one key reason for Iran’s rejection of talks is Washington’s insistence on sweeping concessions, including halting uranium enrichment. “Zero enrichment is something Iran will never accept,” he said, describing the demand as outside international norms. He added that “no IAEA member state accepts such limits on its own soil.”
Iran International reported last month that President Donald Trump reiterated three preconditions for talks via Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman: an end to enrichment, curbs on Iran’s missile program, and halting support for armed allies in the region. Tehran rejects all three as non-starters.
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei last week denied that Iran had asked Saudi Arabia to mediate, calling reports of outreach “pure lies.” Maleki said lawmakers and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi have agreed that Iran should stay aligned with Khamenei’s guidance.
Araghchi had said earlier that Iran remains open to negotiation “when it is real,” but added that Washington is currently “dictating, not negotiating.”
Regional risks and warnings
Maleki said there is a possibility of US or Israeli attacks on armed groups aligned with Iran in Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen, describing Washington and Tel Aviv as increasingly isolated. “They are cornered, and they may act out of desperation,” he said.
He argued that some Arab governments no longer view US guarantees as dependable. “Many in the region see that the American rope is rotten, and those who cling to it will fall to the bottom of the well,” he said.
Maleki said Iran is ready for any escalation. “We are far more prepared than before,” he said, adding that although Iran suffered losses in the opening hours of the recent twelve-day conflict, “the enemy knows our readiness now.”
He said Tehran’s position remains unchanged: “Whenever the Americans enter real negotiations — give and take — and prove good faith, we have no problem. But imposing preconditions will never be acceptable.”