US Rejects Iran's 7 Conditions as Tensions Escalate

A senior US security official said on June 20 that Washington's response to seven conditions put forward by Iran was insufficient, despite recent diplomatic efforts to cool bilateral tensions.

Speaking to reporters, the official said the United States had reviewed the conditions set by Tehran but offered no concessions beyond what had previously been made public. Analysts said the move reflected the hardline stance of President Donald Trump's administration in applying maximum pressure on Iran.

Iran was previously reported to have set out seven conditions for negotiations, including the lifting of US sanctions and a pledge not to interfere in the country's internal affairs. The US, however, responded only with proposals deemed inadequate.

Meanwhile, tensions between the two countries remain high after the US killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani earlier this year and the retaliatory strikes that followed. International diplomats are calling on both sides to exercise restraint and return to the negotiating table.