Iran Defends Two-Day Peace Talks Proposal After U.S. Rejection

Iran defended a proposal on Monday to restart peace talks in as few as two days, describing the offer as the most reasonable one currently available. The defense follows remarks by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who called some of Iran's conditions "outrageous and ridiculous."

During a weekly press conference, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei addressed the U.S. reaction. "Is it unreasonable that Iran demands that U.S. illegal sanctions and its naval blockade must be lifted before negotiations start and that the war should end on all fronts?" Baghaei asked reporters.

The current proposal shortens the timeline for restarting talks from an earlier seven-day proposal. That framework calls for Washington to first meet specific conditions, which include halting hostilities, lifting the naval blockade, and waiving economic sanctions against Tehran.

In addition to the talks, Baghaei commented on regional diplomatic relations, stating that U.S. pressure on Iraq to close most of its borders with Iran should not affect bilateral ties with Baghdad. This statement followed remarks from Iraq's foreign minister regarding Washington's push for border closures.

Baghaei also dismissed a U.S. military task force aimed at restricting Iran's land trade. He characterized the task force as a diversion following losses by President Donald Trump's Republican party in midterm elections.

"Geopolitical friction and trade restrictions directly impact global supply chains, cross-border commerce, and market stability. For businesses operating internationally, sudden policy shifts, sanctions, and border constraints require robust risk management and agile operational planning to navigate economic uncertainties effectively." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes