Ten thorny requests and only two weeks for an uphill negotiation. The plan proposed by Iran is the negotiating basis of the truce announced by American President Donald Trump, after the Iranians had rejected an initial 15-point US offer. The comparison between Tehran’s conditions and the American proposals reveals all the critical issues of the negotiation: from the Strait of Hormuz to nuclear power, up to the future of Tehran’s regional allies.
CESSATION OF HOSTILITY. Iran calls for an end to attacks, including those against allies such as Hezbollah. Although mediator Pakistan has specified that the truce also concerns Lebanon, the Israeli army has continued to bomb the south and Benjamin Netanyahu has said that it is excluded.
NON-AGGRESSION COMMITMENT. It is a guarantee that the United States will hardly be able to provide, also considering the need to protect Israel, their historic regional ally and sworn enemy of the Islamic Republic.
CONTROL OF THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ. Perhaps the most controversial point. Iran demands the maintenance of Iranian management of the sea route, with the introduction of a passage system regulated by its armed forces.
TOLL FOR NAVAL TRANSITS. The request to impose a toll of up to 2 million dollars per ship risks being the rock on which the negotiation could stall. Hormuz is in Iranian and Omani territorial waters. Its legal status is a matter of dispute. For the Montego Bay Convention (1982) it is an international passage, but Iran (which signed the agreement but never ratified it) claims that the more restrictive ‘harmless’ passage applies, according to which a coastal state can suspend a transit for security reasons. Oman has already said it will not charge passage fees.
RECOGNITION OF THE NUCLEAR PROGRAM. Tehran demands that the US accept Iran’s ability to enrich uranium for civilian purposes. In their proposal the United States called for a total renunciation of nuclear power. The two proposals therefore conflict, especially if we consider that the US and Israel went to war to prevent Tehran from creating a nuclear arsenal.
REMOVAL OF SANCTIONS. The immediate lifting of all primary and secondary sanctions imposed on Iran by the US, UN and IAEA is perhaps one of the simplest points to implement, also contained in the American proposal.
UNLOCKING OF FROZEN GOODS. The Islamic Republic demands the release of all its assets held abroad or blocked by the United States. According to data from Iran International, the value varies between 100 and 120 billion dollars, but only 2 billion is held by the USA.
WITHDRAWAL OF US TROOPS. A complex passage, logistically and politically. The United States has approximately 50,000 troops deployed in the Middle East. For analysts, this request from Tehran only serves to gain negotiating space.
COMPENSATION OF DAMAGES. Even in this case it is a difficult condition to obtain: Iran has attacked several Gulf countries which, in turn, could be entitled to ask for compensation.
BINDING UN RESOLUTION. Iran demands that any final agreement be ratified by a UN Security Council resolution. He could easily be satisfied, also because Russia, a supporter of Tehran, sits on the Council.