Cleric says retreat before US and Israel 'unacceptable'

Mohammad Mehdi Hosseini Hamedani, the Friday prayer leader in Karaj, said any country that places its territory or facilities at the disposal of what he called the Islamic Republic's "enemies" should understand that its infrastructure and interests would become legitimate targets for Iran's armed forces.

"Iranian nation" would never extend friendship or allegiance to the "killers of its commanders and martyrs," he added.

"Negotiations conducted under threat amount to accepting fear and retreating before the enemy and would bring no benefit to the country," said the cleric.

Iran's state news agency IRNA reported that the current draft agreement with the United States is defined by seven broad principles and that Iran's missile capabilities would not be part of the agenda during proposed negotiations.

According to IRNA, only three issues would be addressed during the 60-day talks following the signing of the memorandum: the continuation of Iran's nuclear program, the lifting of US sanctions and a mechanism for compensation.

IRNA also reported that no agreement on the nuclear file has been reached within the current memorandum.

Alireza Arafi, the Friday prayer leader in Qom, said expanding the scope of confrontation and targeting US interests in different locations forms part of the Islamic Republic's new strategy, threatening that additional capabilities would be activated if what he called "hostile behavior" continues.

Arafi said on Friday that the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, Bab al-Mandab, the Red Sea and any location where US interests are present should be considered part of the arena of confrontation.

The Islamic Republic, he said, had, for the first time in contemporary history, confronted what he described as "the world's most powerful military force" and had not only endured the encounter but also broken the fear surrounding such a confrontation.

Tasnim, a news agency affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, cited informed sources as saying Washington told Tehran through Qatari mediators that it no longer required changes sought by the United States to a proposed text.

According to the report, efforts by US President Donald Trump to alter the Islamic Republic's position through military pressure, diplomatic threats and Qatari mediation failed, with Tehran rejecting the latest proposed changes.

Tasnim also quoted the sources as saying the 14-point text remains under review by relevant institutions in the Islamic Republic and that speculation over the outcome of the negotiations is not "credible" until that process is complete.

New details of a reported 14-point draft understanding between Iran and the United States have been published by Mehr News, which cited a source close to the Iranian negotiating team.

According to the report, the draft includes the following provisions:

1. A permanent and immediate halt to fighting on all fronts, including Lebanon.

2. A US commitment not to interfere in Iran's internal affairs and to respect the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

3. The full lifting of the naval blockade within 30 days.

4. A US commitment to withdraw its forces from areas surrounding Iran.

5. The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz within 30 days under arrangements set by Iran.

6. The suspension of sanctions on Iran's oil sales, petrochemical products and derivatives, along with full Iranian access to the resulting financial resources.

7. A requirement for the United States and its allies to present plans for Iran's reconstruction worth at least $300 billion.

8. A 60-day negotiating period aimed at reaching a final agreement covering nuclear issues and the complete removal of US primary and secondary sanctions, as well as United Nations Security Council and International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors resolutions.

9. A reiteration of Iran's commitment under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty not to produce nuclear weapons.

10. During the negotiation period, the United States would not deploy additional forces to the region or impose new sanctions.

11. The release of $24 billion in blocked Iranian funds during the 60-day negotiation period, with half of that amount to be made available to Iran before negotiations begin.

12. The establishment of a monitoring mechanism to implement the agreement.

13. Approval of the final agreement through a United Nations Security Council resolution.

14. Final negotiations would not begin before the release of half of Iran's blocked funds, the suspension of Iran's oil sanctions and the lifting of the naval blockade. The final agreement would focus exclusively on the fate of enriched material and enrichment activities, sanctions relief and plans to rebuild Iran's economy. Discussions regarding Iran's missile program and support for resistance groups would be definitively excluded from the agenda.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei has said the text still requires review and finalization by the relevant authorities in Iran.