Senior official calls US talks a form of warfare, says Iran must negotiate tactically

“If they [Israel] are in a rush to receive another True Promise operation [aerial assault], we are fully ready to deliver an appropriate strike — and collect on what they already owe us,” Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Commander-in-Chief of Iran’s Army, said during a military ceremony using the code name of Iran’s direct attacks on Israel.

Mousavi’s comments come amid a multi-front conflict between Israel and Iranian-aligned forces, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, groups in Syria and Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen, in the wake of the war in Gaza sparked by Iran-aligned Hamas's October 7 attacks on Israel.

Israeli and US officials have said that recent operations have weakened Iran’s regional capabilities, particularly following an Israeli airstrike on Iranian targets including air defense systems in late October, and a spate of attacks on infrastructure and leadership of Iran's strongest ally, Hezbollah, last year.

Responding to what he described as “rhetoric” from Israeli leaders, Mousavi dismissed the threats as bluster, saying the Israeli leadership “lacks the capacity to harm the greatness of Iran.”

He added that Tehran’s response, should conflict escalate, would bring “extraordinary challenges” for Israel and its allies.

The remarks echo recent comments from senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Ali Fadavi, who said in February that Iran would launch a third direct strike on Israel “in due course” — an operation dubbed True Promise 3.

Iran's first direct attack on Israel, Operation True Promise 1 on April 13 involved over 300 missiles and drones targeting military installations with minimal damage, retaliating for the killing of two Iranian generals in Damascus.

Operation True Promise 2 on October 1 followed with around 200 missiles targeting Israeli military facilities after the assassination of Iran-aligned militant leaders, including former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh.

Fadavi said that Iran had withstood external threats for over four decades, describing the United States and Israel as “the Great Satan and its partners.”

The phrase, a hallmark of the Islamic Republic’s revolutionary rhetoric, underscores Iran’s framing of its confrontation with the West as both geopolitical and ideological.

Despite the combative tone from Tehran, US and Israeli officials maintain that their policies of deterrence and sanctions are limiting Iran’s influence and delaying its nuclear ambitions.

US President Donald Trump, who has expressed his optimism over the ongoing indirect nuclear negotiations, which he says are preferred over threats of 'bombing' Iran, also reinstated the “maximum pressure” campaign aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear program and regional activities.

"You cannot threaten Iran on one hand and claim to support dialogue on the other," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on several occasions since the negotiations began.

“It’s not like we will die of hunger if they refuse to negotiate with us or impose sanctions. We will find a way to survive,” Pezeshkian said referring to indirect nuclear negotiations with the US.

Speaking at a ceremony marking the anniversary of the founding of Islamic Azad University, Pezeshkian emphasized self-reliance, unity, and the mobilization of Iran’s domestic talent. “If we reach agreement internally with our people and elites, we will not need anyone else,” he said.

Pezeshkian, a moderate politician elected last year, expressed optimism about Iran’s ability to overcome economic and political challenges, including sanctions. “There are hundreds of ways to overcome problems. We must unite and let our experts act,” he added.

Iran and the United States have engaged in indirect nuclear talks through intermediaries in recent months. While no formal deal has been announced, US officials have hinted at progress toward de-escalation.

Iran has been under heavy US sanctions since Washington withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018. Those have since increased since 2022 with the Woman, Life, Freedom protests leading to further global sanctions for rights abuses and Iran's support of Russia's war on Ukraine garnering others.

Pezeshkian’s administration has signaled a willingness to resolve domestic and international challenges through a combination of dialogue, resilience, and national unity. “Whether the enemy wants it or not, we will bring our country to the place it deserves,” he said.

US President Donald Trump has warned Iran that if a new nuclear deal is not reached, the US will 'bomb' Iran.

However, talks are sticking over the issue of Iran's uranium enrichment which the US wants Iran to stop completely, but which Iran says is its red line.

“Enrichment is an inseparable part of Iran’s nuclear industry and must be maintained. We are in no way permitted to show even the slightest flexibility on this issue,” foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Monday speaking at a press conference.

Baghaei denied reports suggesting Iran could freeze enrichment for three years to secure a deal.

“Iran will never accept that,” he said, adding that no date had yet been set for a sixth round of talks with Washington.

Baghaei's remarks come a day come after US President Donald Trump said that “real progress” had been made in recent talks with Iran and suggested there could be “some good news” in the coming days.

“Very importantly, we had some very good talks with Iran yesterday and today, and let's see what happens. But I think we could have some good news on the Iran front. We've had some real progress, serious progress," Trump told reporters in New Jersey before departing for Washington.

Referring to his threats in March that if a deal was not struck within a two-month deadline, there would be "bombing like they have never seen before", Trump said he hopes the diplomatic paths succeed.

"I’d love that to happen because I’d love to see no bombs dropped and a lot of people dead. I really would like to see that happen.”

Baghaei for his part said Iran is awaiting further details from mediator Oman regarding the next meeting. “If there is goodwill from the American side, we are also optimistic, but if talks are aimed at curbing Iran's rights then talks will get nowhere,” he added.

He said that if Washington's aim is simply to ensure Iran’s program remains non-military, that has already been achieved. “But if the goal is to deprive Iran of its rights, we do not believe this process will reach any outcome,” he said.

Enrichment remains a red line for Tehran. Iran is the only non-nuclear weapon state enriching uranium to 60% U-235, a level that causes "serious concern," according to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi.

The IAEA has consistently maintained that there is no credible civilian use for uranium enriched to this level, which is a short technical step from weapons-grade 90% fissile material.

Iran's stockpile of 60% enriched uranium had increased to 275 kg, enough to theoretically make about half a dozen weapons if Iran further enriches the uranium.

President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran will not be brought to its knees by sanctions or failed negotiations.

“It’s not as if we’ll die of hunger if they refuse to talk to us or impose sanctions,” he said in a speech on Monday. “We will find a way—there are hundreds of ways to overcome problems.”

“If we reach an understanding with our elites and our people, we won’t need anyone else,” Pezeshkian added.

Foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Monday that while Iran welcomes regional participation in peaceful nuclear efforts, any consortium model cannot replace domestic enrichment.

“We support initiatives involving regional countries in enrichment and fuel production for peaceful use, but this cannot substitute Iran’s internal program,” he said.

Baghaei also added that neighboring states have been kept informed during each round of talks and acknowledged growing interest in nuclear energy across the region.

On the handling of enriched uranium stockpiles, he said, “We have not yet reached the stage of addressing detailed mechanisms.”