After Talks With Three Countries, Iran’s Security Chief Meets Khamenei

A day after meeting officials from three countries, Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei met Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei in Tehran. The meeting linked regional diplomacy to Iran’s demands for ending the war, with control of the Strait of Hormuz also on the agenda. Khamenei has not appeared in public since March, though Iranian officials have reported meeting with him. ^9,7

The talks with Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan came first, on Monday, marking the first high-level contact between Iran and the three countries since the war began. Their officials came to Tehran seeking to ease the conflict, which began with U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran in February, according to Reuters. Rezaei then briefed Khamenei on Iran’s situation and the security council’s work. Khamenei called for Iran’s conditions to be met to end what he called “neither war nor peace.” ^9,3

The phrase points to a conflict with no settlement, while Tehran’s demands stand in the way of talks on other disputes. An Iranian official said Iran’s nuclear program was not discussed with the visiting countries and would not be addressed until its demands were met. Those demands include ending the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports and sanctions on Iranian oil exports. U.S. Vice President JD Vance has said Iran must reduce nuclear enrichment to help end the war. The competing positions leave the nuclear issue tied to a wider dispute over how the conflict ends. ^9,8

The Strait of Hormuz is another pressure point. Khamenei called for Iran to protect national and regional security by maintaining control of the waterway while building closer ties with neighboring countries. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, which coordinates state policy on security, politics, the economy and culture, also aims to promote regional arrangements led by West Asian countries. The next stated hurdle is whether Tehran’s demands are met; Iran says the nuclear issue must wait until then. ^1,9