'Free Iran', 'Woman Life Freedom' slogans sprayed on walls of Iran's embassy in Damascus

Referring to earlier discussions, Mohajerani noted that Iran's president met with Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, in October, and expressed optimism about finalizing the deal.

"Specifically with Russia, we anticipate the president's visit to Moscow, during which we hope to see progress on two key issues: the North-South Corridor, which is already underway, and the plan to transfer Russian gas to Iran—both of which have been key points of agreement between the two sides," Mohajerani said.

Tehran and Moscow initially signed a long-term agreement in March 2001, officially called the Treaty of the Foundation of Mutual Relations and the Principles of Cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Russian Federation Act. The agreement was originally set for ten years but was extended twice for five-year terms. However, similar promises have been made in the past without finalizing a renewed treaty.

According to Iran’s ambassador to Russia, the countries agreed in 2021 to extend the agreement for another five years, setting its expiration for 2026.

In 2023, reports surfaced about possible challenges in developing the new agreement with Russia, though few details about its content have been disclosed publicly.

Shariatmadari argued that the advocates of talks are either "naive" or "inefficient" and are using negotiations with the US as a cover for their inability to solve problems. He also accused them of "having ties with the enemy out of deceit or greed."

His comments come as on Friday, Abbas Araghchi, Iran's Minister of Foreign Affairs, said in an interview with China's CCTV network that Tehran is ready for "constructive and prompt" negotiations over its nuclear program.

In recent days, some officials in Masoud Pezeshkian's administration and insider political figures have called for talks with Donald Trump, who will officially assume the US presidency on January 20.

Among them, Ali Abdolalizadeh, Pezeshkian's special representative for maritime economy and head of his campaign during the 2024 presidential election, said on Tuesday that negotiations with Trump are necessary.

"We cannot keep the country's issues suspended," Abdolalizadeh said, adding, "The entirety of the ruling system has also reached [the necessity] of face-to-face negotiations."

"So far, the impeachment of Mohsen Paknejad, the Minister of Oil, with 23 signatures, and the impeachment of Abdolnaser Hemmati, the Minister of Economy, with over 70 signatures, have been officially registered in the parliament system," Naderi said.

Meanwhile, on the same day, President Masoud Pezeshkian criticized corruption in Iran's economy, which is mostly controlled and regulated by the government.

"In a situation where the allocation of preferential currency rates to certain individuals in both the public and private sectors has turned into quotas and insider privileges, leaving others at a disadvantage, how can such a market be considered competitive? This process certainly needs reform," he said.

Iran is grappling with a dire economic situation, with its currency, the rial, depreciating by over 30% since September. This decline has been driven by regional conflicts and setbacks in Syria and Lebanon.

In late December, business owners and workers in Tehran’s historic bazaar staged a rare strike to protest runaway inflation and soaring foreign currency rates. The strike sparked similar demonstrations in other commercial hubs across the capital.

Unrest in the historic heart of Iran’s commerce reflects the grim state of the country’s economy. In 1979, protests in the bazaar were a precursor to the Islamic Revolution that overthrew the monarchy, underscoring the political significance of such discontent.

The announcement signals a continued emphasis on the administration’s tough approach on Tehran but comes with Trump’s acknowledgment of past tensions with his appointee.

“I am pleased to announce Morgan Ortagus as Deputy Special Presidential Envoy for Middle East Peace… Early on Morgan fought me for three years, but hopefully has learned her lesson,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “She will hopefully be an asset to Steve [Witkoff, Trump’s Special Envoy to the Middle East].”

Ortagus is recognized as a significant figure in US foreign policy, serving as the State Department spokesperson during Trump’s presidency. In this role, she communicated US positions on global issues, often focusing on Iran, China, and the Middle East.

She expressed hope in a tweet after being appointed that under Trump peace and stability will return to the Middle East.

A hardline approach to Iran

Ortagus consistently echoed and defended the Trump administration’s maximum pressure campaign against Iran. This policy aimed to isolate Tehran diplomatically and economically following the US withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear agreement (JCPOA) in 2018.

Ortagus argued that the sanctions undermined Iran’s ability to fund regional proxy groups and its missile development program.

She supported the US exit from the JCPOA, describing the agreement as inadequate in addressing Iran’s regional interventions and nuclear ambitions.

"Under the current trajectory, the Iranian regime will get a nuclear weapon in the next administration unless we have a president with the fortitude to stop it," said Ortagus in an exclusive interview with Iran International in June.

Ortagus highlighted the US’s backing of domestic protests in Iran, attributing the country’s economic and social struggles to the government’s policies.

"Khamenei's thugs killed 1,500 Iranians on the streets of Iran last November,” Ortagus wrote, quoting one of Khamenei's tweets in August 2020. “At least 23 were children. They deserved freedom and a future.”

She was referring to the fall of 2019, when widespread protests broke out across Iran following a sudden threefold increase in gas prices. Thousands of protesters were arrested. Many victims sustained gunshot wounds to the upper chest, indicating that security forces were operating under shoot-to-kill orders.

Ortagus has consistently portrayed Iran’s missile program as a global threat and accused Tehran of supporting militant groups.

Joining a team led by Steve Witkoff, Ortagus’s appointment comes at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East. Her focus on pressuring Tehran aligns with Trump’s broader foreign policy objectives.

"Simply put, Syria served as a kind of backbone and connector for the axis of resistance, playing an unparalleled role in any potential offensive against the northern front of Palestine. However, within the framework of the strategic ideology, this role has now been transferred to Yemen following the loss of Syria," he said.

Iran-backed militias in the region have become weaker as Israel has launched attacks on Hamas and Hezbollah, both part of what Iran calls the Resistance Axis. Meanwhile, the Houthis in Yemen have escalated their attacks. Since October 7, they have fired drones and missiles almost daily toward Israel, describing these actions as solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. They have also made commercial traffic unsafe in the Red Sea by targeting vessels moving to or from the Suez Canal.

In September, Iran International reported that approximately 300 Palestinian and Yemeni fighters were undergoing military training inside Iran, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Last week, the United Nations Security Council warned Iran against further escalations by the Houthis, the Tehran-allied armed group in Yemen.