Progress in negotiations depends on Washington ‘changing its behavior’: Amb Moghaddam

• Tehran’s envoy to Pakistan stresses behavioral shift by Washington key to Iran-US talks as Pakistan-led diplomacy hangs in balance

• Confirms Iran shares fresh proposal with Pakistan to revive stalled talks with US, praising Islamabad’s mediation role in fragile peace process

• Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says Trump faces choice between war escalation or a 'bad deal'

 ISLAMABAD/TEHRAN: Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghaddam has said the continuation of negotiations between Tehran and Washington hinges on a change in US behavior, as diplomatic efforts to revive talks remain in focus, Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported.

In an exclusive interview with Islamic Republic News Agency in Islamabad on Sunday, Amiri Moghaddam said Iran had presented a comprehensive plan aimed at ending what he described as US-Israeli aggression and had made its position clear.

Exclusive | Behavioral shift by Washington key to Iran-US talks, says Iranian ambassadorhttps://t.co/uDdGxflEoC pic.twitter.com/qnSKzUaxD5

— IRNA News Agency ☫ (@IrnaEnglish) May 3, 2026

However, he stressed that progress in the diplomatic process depends on Washington’s sincerity and willingness to resolve outstanding issues through genuine negotiations.

The ambassador reiterated the Islamic Republic’s commitment to safeguarding national interests and defending Iran’s rights, saying Tehran remained firm on its core positions.

He confirmed that Iran had shared its latest proposal with Pakistan, the principal mediator in the ongoing diplomatic process, which was subsequently conveyed to the American side.

Underscoring Pakistan’s role in the process, Amiri Moghaddam praised Islamabad’s mediation efforts and said the facilitation mechanism remained intact despite the deadlock.

He also criticised US conduct, calling it unpredictable and aggressive, while contrasting it with what he described as Iran’s transparent diplomatic posture.

On the economic front, the envoy said Pakistan was seeking to expand trade with the Caucasus and Central Asian states, adding that Iran’s transit corridor remained the most viable route for regional connectivity.

He said border crossings between Pakistan and Iran held strategic importance in strengthening bilateral trade and transit cooperation.

The latest diplomatic push comes after a 40-day conflict that began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, triggering retaliatory action by Tehran against US allies in the Gulf and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

A ceasefire took effect on April 8 following Pakistani mediation and was later extended indefinitely on April 21. The first round of Iran-US talks held in Islamabad on April 11 concluded without an agreement.

IRGC says US options narrowing

In a related development, the intelligence unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed on Sunday that recent developments in the conflict had narrowed Washington’s room for manoeuvre.

In a post on X, the IRGC pointed to what it called Iran’s blockade deadline for the Pentagon, shifts in diplomatic tone by China, Russia and Europe towards Washington, and what it described as US acceptance of Iran’s negotiating terms.

“There is only one way to read this: Trump must choose between an impossible military operation or a bad deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the statement said.

“The room for US decision-making has narrowed,” it added.

A similar statement carried by Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) echoed the same assessment, saying Washington now faced limited strategic options in the war.

Iran signals readiness for talks

A day earlier, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran was willing to return to negotiations with the United States, but only if Washington abandoned what he called “excessive pressure and threatening rhetoric.”

According to Press TV, Araghchi made the remarks while briefing his counterparts in Türkiye, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iraq and Azerbaijan on the fragile diplomatic process.

Araghchi said Iran did not start the war and that its armed forces remained fully prepared to defend the country against any renewed military threat.

He added that Iran entered the latest Pakistan-mediated negotiations in good faith despite deep mistrust of Washington, citing what he described as repeated failures by the US to honour past commitments.

According to IRNA, Iran submitted a new proposal to Pakistan on Thursday to revive negotiations with Washington aimed at reaching an agreement to end the war.