Iran demands sanctions lift and reparations in new peace plan

Iran’s military leadership has issued a five-point demand list for ending the war with the United States. Major-General Ali Abdollahi, the chief of staff for the Iranian armed forces, outlined the conditions on Tuesday. The plan requires an end to hostilities in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. It also calls for the complete removal of sanctions and the unfreezing of Iranian assets. Abdollahi specifically requested war reparations and recognition of Iran’s sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.

The proposal aims to create a regional security framework for West Asia that guarantees protection against future aggression. This diplomatic push coincides with intensified mediation efforts by Qatar. Mediators are working to prevent escalation following the United States midterm elections held on Tuesday. Qatari officials reported a three-hour meeting with Iranian leaders in Tehran on Monday. Both sides are now reviewing a Qatari proposal while exchanging drafts in real time.

Majed al-Ansari, the spokesman for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that the two parties are exchanging proposals without speculating on the likely outcome. He warned that further military strikes on Iranian territory or shipping lanes would negatively impact the negotiations. Al-Ansari emphasized that freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz remains a nonnegotiable priority. This position follows Doha’s condemnation of the targeting of the Qatari tanker Al-Mayda.

US military officials reported limited strikes on Qeshm Island on Monday. They described the attacks as a defensive measure after Iran attempted to target a US aircraft with a surface-to-air missile launcher. Iranian state media reported five explosions on the island and additional blasts in Bandar Lengeh. President Donald Trump had stated on October 8 that the US would avoid attacking Iran before the midterm elections. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced on Tuesday that it downed three US reconnaissance drones near the strait.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s parliament and its lead negotiator, said the initiative now rests with Washington. He stated that the ball is in America’s court to prevent war. Iran’s Hamshahri newspaper reported that Tehran has updated its list of potential targets to include US bases and infrastructure in Europe. Zeidon Alkinani, the founding director of the Arab Perceptions Institute, noted that diplomacy and force are currently running in parallel. He observed that the diplomatic channel has remained active since March but has not yet produced a fundamental breakthrough.

US Vice President JD Vance expressed optimism on Monday about reaching a negotiated settlement. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi responded on Tuesday by stating that Iran is not waiting for the outcome of US midterm elections. He said Tehran is not shaping its policies around the American political calendar. The conflicting signals underscore the current state of negotiations between the two nations.