Trump Demands Direct Talks with Khamenei’s Inner Circle on Hormuz, Nuclear File

Senior diplomatic sources disclosed that former U.S. President Donald Trump, acting through regional intermediaries, formally requested that all high-level communications aimed at resolving tensions with Iran be restricted exclusively to advisers directly linked to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The objective is to enable direct negotiation with the ultimate decision-making authority within Iran’s system and to guarantee implementation of any understandings concerning the Strait of Hormuz, the nuclear program, and sanctions.

Why Khamenei’s Advisers Are Central

According to these sources, who spoke to “Erem News,” Pakistan and other regional states conveyed a message to Tehran emphasizing that urgent talks must occur with Khamenei’s inner circle—not solely through conventional diplomatic channels. This approach is intended to prevent what Washington describes as recurring contradictions among Iranian institutions regarding policy positions.

The U.S. administration seeks to establish a direct negotiation channel with the entity holding final decision-making power inside Iran’s political structure. It views any agreement as unsustainable if engagement remains limited to the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, given Washington’s assessment of persistent discrepancies between statements by civilian officials and positions taken by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

A Binding Timeline for Implementation

Sources indicated that Trump envisions the next phase including a clearly defined timeline for fulfilling commitments. This sequence would begin with guaranteed freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, followed by discussions on the nuclear program, frozen Iranian financial assets, and sanctions—designed to eliminate ambiguity in interpreting agreement provisions or enforcement mechanisms.

Washington attributes the collapse of the previous memorandum of understanding to IRGC actions—including threats to maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz—despite preliminary understandings having been reached on several issues. As a result, the U.S. administration is now insisting that advisers from the Supreme Leader’s office be included in any new negotiation track.

Intermediaries Deliver Clear Signal

A diplomat familiar with communication channels between Washington and Tehran told “Erem News” that recent intermediary efforts—including those led by Qatar and Pakistan alongside other regional countries—to de-escalate potential U.S. military action carried a definitive White House message: future negotiations must not be confined to Iran’s foreign ministry.

The United States aims for an agreement “unambiguous and permitting only one interpretation,” following repeated failures of prior understandings due to internal Iranian policy inconsistencies.

This stance reflects a U.S. conviction that public statements by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi or President Masoud Pezeshkian are frequently contradicted by divergent messaging issued by the IRGC—a pattern also observed in official positions on whether negotiations could resume.

In parallel, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the status of the Strait of Hormuz “will not return to its pre-war condition.” It confirmed that ongoing talks with the Sultanate of Oman do not concern reopening or closing the strait but instead focus on establishing arrangements for a new maritime route that respects what Iran describes as sovereign rights and shared interests.