What are Iran’s 'seven conditions' for talks with the US amid a ‘decisive war’ warning?

Iran has laid down seven conditions for negotiations with the United States, putting forward a sweeping set of demands that goes beyond an immediate ceasefire and seeks changes to Washington’s military and economic pressure on Tehran.

The conditions have been communicated to Washington through Qatar, which has emerged as a key intermediary in efforts to revive diplomacy. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said Tehran was awaiting US President Donald Trump’s response and warned that Iran was prepared for a “decisive war” if diplomatic efforts failed. While Rezaei publicly highlighted three elements — ending the war on all fronts, releasing frozen Iranian funds and ending the naval blockade — the broader seven-point framework previously communicated by Tehran also covers threats, sanctions, US forces in the region and compensation for wartime damage. Here is what the seven conditions mean.

1. Halt to threats

Iran wants Washington to stop military threats against it as part of any move towards negotiations. This is significant because Tehran is seeking restraint even before substantive talks begin, rather than treating military de-escalation as an outcome of negotiations. The demand is also aimed at removing what Iran regards as negotiations under coercion. Rezaei has argued that threats from Trump will not force Tehran to change its position.

2. End attacks on all fronts

The second condition calls for an end to military attacks across the different theatres linked to the conflict, including Israeli operations in Lebanon. In effect, Iran is attempting to place the wider regional confrontation within the framework of US-Iran negotiations rather than limiting talks to direct hostilities between Washington and Tehran. That considerably broadens the scope of a possible agreement, since developments involving Israel, Lebanon and Iran-aligned groups would become relevant to any settlement.

3. Lift the naval blockade

Tehran wants the US naval blockade lifted. The demand has particular importance because maritime access and control of shipping have become central pressure points in the conflict. Iran has meanwhile used its position around the Strait of Hormuz as leverage. The waterway is one of the world's most important energy transit routes, making any arrangement governing shipping through it consequential far beyond Iran and the US.

4. US forces must leave

One of Tehran’s most far-reaching demands is the withdrawal of American military forces from the region. The US maintains a substantial military presence across West Asia, including naval and air assets. Such a withdrawal would represent a fundamental shift in the regional security architecture and is therefore likely to be among the most difficult issues in any negotiation. Iran has long portrayed the American military presence near its borders as a security threat, while Washington has maintained forces in the region to protect its interests and partners.

5. Compensation for war damage

Iran is also seeking compensation for damage caused during the conflict. Tehran has framed this as war reparations, effectively arguing that Washington should bear financial responsibility for destruction caused by military operations. The issue could prove particularly contentious because agreeing to compensation could carry political as well as financial implications, including questions over responsibility for the conflict.

6. Sanctions must go

Iran wants US economic sanctions lifted as part of the settlement. Sanctions have been one of Washington’s principal tools for putting pressure on Tehran, restricting its access to international finance, trade and energy markets. For Iran, therefore, sanctions relief is not simply an economic demand. It is central to whether any diplomatic agreement produces tangible benefits for the country. For Washington, however, sanctions also provide negotiating leverage, making the sequencing of any relief potentially crucial.

7. Release frozen assets

Finally, Tehran is demanding access to Iranian funds frozen abroad because of sanctions and financial restrictions. Rezaei specifically identified the release of frozen funds among Iran’s immediate conditions. Unlocking these assets could provide Tehran with access to significant financial resources and would offer one of the quickest economic dividends from an agreement. But it would also require Washington and other governments involved in enforcing restrictions on Iranian assets to determine how and when funds could be released.

Why Qatar matters

Qatar’s role is important because direct communication between Tehran and Washington remains constrained. Doha, along with Pakistan, has been involved in efforts to restore negotiations following the expiry of an earlier memorandum of understanding. By sending its conditions through Qatar, Tehran is keeping a diplomatic channel open even while publicly adopting a hard military posture. Rezaei said Iran remained in contact with the Qatari mediator and was waiting for Trump’s response.

The seven conditions also illustrate how far the negotiating agenda has expanded. What may begin as talks to halt fighting would potentially have to address sanctions, frozen assets, maritime restrictions, regional military deployments, compensation and conflicts involving other actors. For now, Iran has presented diplomacy and military preparedness simultaneously. Rezaei has said another US strike remains possible and indicated that Iranian military planning is increasingly focused on American naval assets from the Gulf and Gulf of Oman to the Arabian Sea. At the same time, Tehran continues to signal that an agreement remains possible if Washington accepts negotiations on its terms.