Iran’s National Security Council: No US Talks Without Mojtaba Khamenei’s Approval

Manouchehr Mottaki, former Iranian foreign minister and current member of the Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, confirmed that no negotiations with the United States have occurred to date. He emphasized that any prospective negotiation track must be authorized by Iran’s supreme leadership—referencing Mojtaba Khamenei.

Four Concrete US Steps Required for Dialogue

In a televised interview on Sunday, Mottaki stated that Tehran must condition any dialogue with Washington on the implementation of four practical and tangible steps by the United States. He dismissed the exchange of messages or political signals alone as insufficient, warning such gestures could deepen ambiguity about the other side’s intentions and intensify doubts regarding its objectives.

US Regional Calculations and Escalatory Risks

Mottaki asserted that the United States operates according to precise calculations and seeks to generate new regional pathways and crises—aimed at preoccupying Iran and diverting its attention toward peripheral issues. He cautioned that these maneuvers may lead to a fundamentally altered regional reality in the coming phase.

Ongoing Tensions and Diplomatic Preconditions

Mottaki’s remarks come amid sustained tension between Iran and the United States and growing speculation about the possible resumption of political contacts or negotiations. Iranian officials have repeatedly affirmed that any future diplomatic initiative must rest on verifiable guarantees and concrete measures from the American side.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Rejects Maritime Blockade

Earlier, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared any maritime blockade imposed on Iran an “aggressive act” and a violation of the United Nations Charter. The ministry stressed that “Tehran will employ all available means to exercise its inherent right to legitimate self-defense.”

In a statement released Saturday evening, the ministry said “defensive strikes by the Iranian Armed Forces continue with full strength” and affirmed that the Islamic Republic will persist in what it describes as “resistance until threats are fully eliminated.”

The statement criticized the performance of the UN Security Council and characterized UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s positions toward U.S. and Israeli actions as “ambiguous and double-edged.” It called on international institutions to fulfill their legal and political responsibilities.