Iran’s reformists push for negotiations with US amid regional strains

Reformist politicians in Iran have intensified public debates, urging Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to engage in negotiations, warning that this may be the regime’s last opportunity to avert a deeper crisis.

Hossein Marashi, a senior reformist figure, recently emphasised that Iran needs a major shift in its foreign policy. “Pezeshkian has the opportunity to take significant steps for Iran,” Marashi said, referring to the newly elected president. “His first mission should be a new chapter in foreign policy. We no longer hold leverage in Lebanon, Syria, or Iraq,” Caliber.Az quotes him as saying via foreign media.

However, despite growing calls for diplomacy, Iranian officials remain cautious about appearing desperate. A relative of Khamenei stated that while Tehran resists US pressure, it is also signalling a willingness to negotiate. “Iran is working to minimise actions that might provoke Washington, even if no agreement is eventually reached,” the source noted.

The ongoing tensions with Israel and setbacks for Tehran-backed groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas have reportedly led Iran’s leadership to reassess its regional influence. However, Tehran insists it still has strategic tools at its disposal. “The Islamic Republic has suffered blows, but there will be no strategic U-turns in its domestic and foreign policies,” the source added.

Iranian-American scholar Vali Nasr noted that while Iran faces economic and geopolitical challenges, its leadership does not perceive itself as weak. “They estimate that there are constraints on Trump if he doesn’t pursue the diplomatic path, and that the risks are quite high for a military conflict that the US cannot then control,” Nasr explained.

During Trump’s presidency, Iran responded to Washington’s “maximum pressure” campaign with a series of escalations, including alleged sabotage attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf and a 2019 missile and drone strike on Saudi oil infrastructure. As Iran navigates its next steps, the question remains whether renewed talks with the US can prevent further confrontation or if Tehran will opt for a more assertive posture in the region.

By Vugar Khalilov