‘Deep suspicion’ of US lingers as Iran ponders agreement to end war | US-Israel war on Iran News
Tehran, Iran – Senior lawmaker Abbas Moghtadaei conveyed a prevailing sentiment in Iran regarding the United States, stating on state television Tuesday that “the fundamental principle is distrust towards America.” His remarks follow the return of an Iranian delegation, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, from Qatar as efforts to negotiate an end to a nearly three-month-long war continue.
Earlier that day, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Washington for what it labeled a “blatant violation” of a fragile ceasefire established on April 8. The ministry cited a U.S. attack on the southern province of Hormozgan on Monday night as evidence of the deep mistrust Iran holds toward its American counterpart.
In retaliation, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reported that Iranian forces shot down a U.S.-made RQ-4 drone using a domestically-produced air defense system named Arash-e Kamangir, after the mythical hero. State television showed footage of the drone’s wreckage.
Amid escalating tensions, the U.S. military remarked that its strikes targeted missile launch sites and Iranian boats laying sea mines as part of a “defensive” operation. The IRGC, however, asserted its entitlement to respond to such actions.
On Tuesday, a tanker reported an external explosion and fuel leak approximately 60 nautical miles east of Oman’s capital, Muscat, according to British maritime intelligence. Iranian officials have yet to address the incident.
These developments coincide with ongoing negotiations aimed at finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that could enhance transit through the Strait of Hormuz, which has seen decreased activity since a series of U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran began on February 28. The proposed deal would potentially allow Iran access to frozen overseas funds resulting from U.S. sanctions and serve as a pathway for future discussions regarding Iran’s nuclear program.
Nicole Grajewski, an assistant professor at Sciences Po’s Center for International Research, noted that many Iranian leaders are wary that any agreement might merely offer a temporary pause or tactical advantage before further military action by the U.S. and Israel.
“To be politically viable, Tehran may need to present the deal not as a capitulation, but as an opportunity for managed stabilization while maintaining key sovereign priorities,” she explained.
Across the Iranian political spectrum, from moderate politicians to hardline military factions, there is a shared resolve against any agreement perceived as a form of surrender. President Masoud Pezeshkian recently reassured the international community that Iran seeks neither nuclear weapons nor instability in the region.
In contrast, Majid Mousavi, a prominent IRGC aerospace commander, reiterated the perspective of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stating on X, “Negotiating with the enemy is pure loss.” He pledged allegiance to Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba, who asserted that regional nations would no longer act as shields for American military bases.
Ali Abdollahi, the commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, emphasized the priority of defeating adversaries during a ceremony commemorating Iranian leaders killed in the ongoing war. He condemned U.S. statements as inconsistent and reaffirmed Iran’s capabilities in military confrontation.
In his initial public address as the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr vowed that Iran would not retreat from its positions. Additionally, IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi expressed readiness to escalate military responses if deemed necessary.
Alex Vatanka, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, indicated concerns among Iranian officials regarding negotiations that could compromise Iran’s key geopolitical leverage, particularly in the maritime domain.
“To achieve success, Iranian leadership will need to feel assured that any sanctions relief is both immediate and substantial,” he remarked. The overarching objective is to maintain sufficient deterrents and uphold national dignity to prevent a perception of defeat, ensuring that future conflicts remain avertable.
Amid these talks, there are fears within Iranian media circles that senior officials could be at risk of assassination if military hostilities resume. Nima Akbarkhani, an analyst associated with the IRGC, expressed on state television that any infiltration of their supreme leader by U.S. forces would prompt immediate action without consideration for broader geopolitical interests.
Reports from U.S. media suggest that Khamenei, since the war’s onset, has remained hidden in a secure location, inaccessible even to many government officials, which has reportedly slowed negotiations.
Grajewski concluded that the coming days will be critical for the Islamic Republic in garnering internal support for any potential agreement. Hardline factions are likely to scrutinize any concessions closely, particularly those tied to a crisis-management framework that defers more complex issues until later.
“In the short term, an unstable interim arrangement seems more plausible than a comprehensive resolution,” she noted, emphasizing that the future durability of any agreement depends on the effectiveness of follow-up negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear program.
