On the 12th day of the devastating conflict with the U.S. and Israel, Iran has publicly laid out three specific conditions for ending the war. President Masoud Pezeshkian announced the terms in a social media post on Wednesday, March 11, even as airstrikes continued to rock the region.
This marks a significant diplomatic move by Tehran, and notably includes the first time a senior Iranian leader has called for reparations as a prerequisite for peace.
The Three Conditions
In his statement, President Pezeshkian outlined the framework for peace.
- Recognition of Iran’s Legitimate Rights: Specifically, Iran demands recognition of its right to nuclear enrichment. During pre-war nuclear talks, Iran consistently argued that as a signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), this is a “legitimate right.”
- Payment of Reparations: For what it described as a war “ignited by the Zionist regime and U.S.,” Iran is demanding reparations. This is a new and significant condition that could become a major sticking point in any future negotiations.
- Firm International Guarantees Against Future Aggression: Tehran is seeking binding assurances from the international community to prevent any repeat of the attacks that began on February 28, which included the assassination of its Supreme Leader and several top officials.
President Pezeshkian shared his diplomatic engagements, stating, “Talking to leaders of Russia and Pakistan, I reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to peace in the region. The only way to end this war — ignited by the Zionist regime and U.S. — is recognising Iran’s legitimate rights, payment of reparations, and firm international guarantees against future aggression.”
The War Continues
Despite the diplomatic overture, the military conflict shows no signs of abating.
| Side | Latest Actions / Statements |
|---|---|
| U.S. & Israel | Continued “extensive air strikes” in Iran, targeting IRGC command centers, military academies, ballistic missile sites, and air defense systems. |
| Iran & Allies | IRGC launched “decisive strikes” jointly with Lebanon’s Hezbollah, designed to maintain “continuous and sustained fire over a five-hour period.” |
U.S. and Iranian Positions
U.S. President Donald Trump commented on the situation, suggesting he could end the war at any time, adding, “Practically there is nothing much left to strike.”
In stark contrast, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of Iran’s Parliament, struck a defiant tone, vowing to break the cycle of conflict. “The Zionist regime has consistently perpetuated a vicious cycle of ‘war, negotiations, ceasefire, then war again’ throughout its disgusting history. We will break this cycle.”
Russia’s Call for De-escalation
Amid the escalating conflict, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with President Pezeshkian and called for “immediate de-escalation” and a political resolution. The Kremlin stated that Putin reaffirmed his principled position in favour of a swift end to the conflict, while Pezeshkian thanked Russia for its support and humanitarian aid.
