Iran Open to Resuming US Talks After Islamabad Failure

Iranian diplomats expressed openness to resuming peace negotiations with the United States following the collapse of talks in Islamabad, but only under conditions that respect Tehran's nuclear rights and avoid unilateral demands. The discussions, which lasted 21 hours and ended early Sunday without agreement, were hosted in Pakistan amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

The failure stemmed from a shift in the U.S. position, according to Saeid Reza Mosayeb Motlagh, Iran's consul general in Mumbai. He stated in an interview that the U.S. initially accepted Iran's 10-point proposal, which included provisions for peaceful uranium enrichment, but later insisted that Iran had no such right. "Washington changed its approach and attempted to dictate its terms," Motlagh said, describing the move as a breach of trust that deepened mistrust toward the United States. Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for civilian purposes, supported by international inspections that have found no evidence of military deviation.

Mohammad Fathali, Iran's ambassador to India, echoed this during a press conference in New Delhi on Monday, accusing the U.S. of making unlawful demands. "If they...