Iran issues seven demands to US and warns of decisive war if rejected

Iran has delivered seven conditions to the United States to end their military conflict, warning Donald Trump that his threats will not work and that Tehran is prepared for a "decisive war" if the terms are rejected.

The demands were passed to Washington through Qatari mediators. Mohsen Rezaei, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, confirmed the diplomatic move and said Tehran is now waiting for a response from the US President.

While the full list of seven demands has not been made public, Rezaei revealed the core terms: an immediate end to the war on all fronts, the lifting of the US naval blockade on Iranian ports, and the release of frozen Iranian assets. These demands largely match a 14-point framework agreement signed by both nations in June, which collapsed after a 60-day window to negotiate a permanent peace expired without an extension.

The threat of escalation

The diplomatic initiative arrives at a highly volatile moment. Just last week, Trump said he was weighing a "big decision" on whether to resume large-scale military action to "annihilate" the Iranian regime.

Rezaei dismissed the threats, warning that Iran has already adapted its military planning to focus on US naval assets across the Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, and the Arabian Sea. He claimed Iranian forces recently test-fired a multi-warhead anti-ship missile near a US vessel.

"It is in Washington’s interest to accept these conditions," Rezaei said, adding that Iran is prepared for a "decisive war" if negotiations fail.

Tehran is also raising the stakes on its nuclear programme. Rezaei warned that while Iran still abides by a religious decree prohibiting nuclear weapons, further sanctions or a referral of its nuclear dossier to the UN Security Council could force Tehran to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The warning follows a move by the International Atomic Energy Agency this month to refer Iran to the Security Council over blocked access to its nuclear sites.

Widening regional conflict

The standoff is unfolding alongside a major escalation in Yemen. The Iran-backed Houthi movement has made rapid territorial gains along the Red Sea coast, threatening global shipping lanes. On Saturday, the Houthis launched missile and drone strikes targeting sensitive sites in Riyadh and an Aramco oil facility in Yanbu.

Despite the rhetoric, diplomatic backchannels remain active. The US State Department has issued visas for the Iranian delegation to attend the UN General Assembly in New York, which runs until 28 September. Meanwhile, US officials recently met with Houthi representatives in Oman, where the militia reportedly pledged to respect a 2025 ceasefire and avoid attacking American vessels.