Pezeshkian and senior officials urge diplomatic engagement as Tehran warns that renewed conflict with Washington remains a strong possibility…reports Asian Lite News Desk
Senior Iranian political leaders are urging the country’s military leadership to consider a Qatar-mediated proposal to end hostilities with the United States, amid assessments in Tehran that a return to direct conflict remains the most likely scenario.
According to Al Arabiya, citing sources, President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi have advised military leaders to engage constructively with the proposal submitted by Qatari mediators.
The report said Iranian internal assessments viewed renewed war with Washington as the most likely outcome, despite efforts by senior political figures to pursue a diplomatic settlement.
Qatari envoys recently travelled to Tehran with a limited mandate to obtain Iran’s official response to the proposed framework, rather than conduct extended negotiations, Al Arabiya reported.
The diplomatic intervention comes as Iran and the United States exchange warnings over possible military escalation, while regional countries intensify efforts to prevent a renewed confrontation.
Earlier on Monday, Pezeshkian said his administration would seek to resolve problems through dialogue, particularly those arising from external interference.
Addressing a meeting with regional governors and mayors in Tehran, he said Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had granted the government certain authorities to pursue diplomatic solutions.
Pezeshkian stressed that no one benefited from war and said Iran’s adversaries would not succeed in forcing the country to surrender. He also accused Washington of attempting to disrupt cross-border commerce, pledging to counter what he described as its plans through public cooperation.
Araghchi separately said diplomatic consultations mediated by Qatar and Pakistan had become “extremely intensive” because of the sensitive regional situation.
Speaking to Iran’s official news agency IRNA after a visit to Turkmenistan, he said the process involved frequent exchanges between delegations, dozens of telephone conversations and numerous messages between the parties.He reiterated Tehran’s readiness to pursue both diplomacy and defence, adding that the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened if Iran’s conditions were accepted.
Iran submitted a seven-day proposal to the United States through intermediaries on September 22, seeking an end to hostilities and the reopening of the strategically important waterway.
“We are committed to rationality, dialogue, and logic, and are ready to enter a positive engagement should the other side adopt a similar approach,” Araghchi said.
However, he warned that any further American military escalation would invite a “far more bitter and severe” response from Iran.
The latest diplomatic efforts follow a period of heightened confrontation after Israel and the United States launched joint attacks targeting Tehran and other Iranian urban centres on February 28.
The Strait of Hormuz remains central to the negotiations because of its importance to international energy supplies and commercial shipping. Any prolonged disruption to the waterway could have wider consequences for global trade and energy markets.
Iran’s political leadership has continued to signal openness to negotiations, while its military establishment remains concerned about the possibility of renewed attacks.
The Qatari initiative now places the focus on Tehran’s formal response, as regional mediators attempt to keep diplomatic channels open and prevent a further escalation between Washington and Tehran.
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