Iran-US Talks: Behind-the-Scenes Diplomacy Amidst Escalating Tensions & Strait of Hormuz Control
President Donald Trump stated Monday that the United States is engaged in “productive” talks with Iran, a claim publicly refuted by Iranian officials who dismissed it as disinformation intended to lower oil prices.
Although official channels remain publicly at odds, indirect communication between Washington and Tehran has been established through a series of intermediaries in recent days. According to two senior diplomatic sources in the region, Egypt, Turkiye, and Pakistan have facilitated these back-channel discussions. Despite this limited diplomatic opening, experts express skepticism about the possibility of a ceasefire, citing significant discrepancies in the positions of both sides.
Iran’s negotiating stance has reportedly hardened since the February 28th attack, orchestrated by the US and Israel, that resulted in the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s then Supreme Leader. The Iranian leadership now seeks more substantial concessions from the US than previously indicated.
The US and Israel maintain that their ongoing military operations have substantially weakened Iran’s military capabilities, with the Pentagon claiming to have eliminated 90 percent of Iran’s missile capacity. However, Iran has demonstrated its continued ability to launch precise strikes. Recent attacks include a strike on Qatar’s main gas site, which reduced its export capacity by 17 percent, following an Israeli attack on Iran’s South Pars field. Two Iranian ballistic missiles successfully breached Israel’s defense systems, impacting the cities of Arad and Dimona and injuring over 180 people after an attack on the Natanz nuclear power plant.
Iran is currently pursuing a strategy of “eye for an eye” deterrence, responding to perceived threats with swift and decisive action. The situation in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil exports, remains volatile, with hundreds of vessels currently stalled. Tehran is exploring options to leverage its control over the strait, including the potential imposition of passage fees, according to Negar Mortazavi, a senior fellow at the Washington, DC-based Center for International Policy. “This chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz is now giving them ideas – ‘maybe we can charge passage fees like some other places in the world’ – there are those discussions in Iran,” Mortazavi said.
Iran’s demands extend beyond a ceasefire to encompass a post-war order that guarantees its long-term economic and security interests. Specifically, Iranian officials are seeking reparations payments, firm assurances against future attacks, and a revised regulatory framework for passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The Trump administration temporarily waived sanctions on 140 million barrels of Iranian oil at sea on Friday, a move analysts suggest was intended to alleviate rising oil prices.
Initially, a key US objective was to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, a goal Trump reiterated on Monday, calling for Iran to relinquish its stockpile of over 400kg of near-weapons-grade uranium. Iranian officials contend that this uranium is now buried under the debris of a nuclear site targeted by US strikes. Previously, the US had also demanded the dismantling of Iran’s ballistic missile program and an finish to its support for armed groups in the region. However, according to one of two sources who spoke to Al Jazeera, Washington has now indicated a willingness to allow Iran to retain 1,000 medium-range missiles, a shift from its prior position.
The lack of trust between the two nations remains a significant obstacle. Trump authorized bombings of Iran while negotiations were underway – in June 2025 and February 2026 – and has repeatedly stated his intention to pursue regime change.
The appointment of Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr as secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council on Tuesday further complicates the diplomatic landscape. Zolghadr, a former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander and secretary of the advisory Expediency Council since 2023, is expected to prioritize the IRGC’s threat perceptions and priorities in any negotiations, according to Babak Vahdad, a political analyst focusing on Iran. “Put bluntly: this looks less like a system preparing for compromise, and more like one preparing to manage prolonged confrontation,” Vahdad said.
Some analysts suggest Trump’s recent pause in attacks on Iran may be a tactical maneuver to stabilize oil prices while awaiting the arrival of additional US military forces in the Middle East. Last week, 2,500 Marines, along with an amphibious assault ship, were deployed to the region, and the USS Tripoli, another amphibious assault ship carrying potentially thousands more Marines, was also dispatched in mid-March. Trump has also reportedly considered the possibility of seizing Iran’s Kharg Island, a key hub for Iranian oil exports.
“Diplomatic talk is one thing; what I witness on the ground is something else,” said Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, a professor of political science from the United Arab Emirates. Abdulla asserted that Gulf states and international partners would not accept Iran maintaining control over the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that military intervention may be necessary to prevent this outcome. “It’s the duty of the international community to take it back, and there is one way to do it, the military way,” said Abdulla.