Iran Sets Seven Conditions for US Talks as Trump Returns Early to White House

Iran has announced seven conditions for any negotiations with the United States, with a senior security official saying Washington must accept them before talks can proceed.

Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said in a post on X that Tehran's position was "clear and unambiguous," and that Washington had no choice but to accept Iran's rights and conditions if it wanted to avoid becoming further entangled in the conflict.

Rezaei did not list all seven demands in the post, but told Al Jazeera that they include an end to the war "on all fronts," the release of frozen Iranian assets, an end to the US naval blockade, a halt to interference in Iran's internal affairs, an end to cooperation with opponents of the Iranian revolution and a stop to any aggression against Iranian territory.

He said a Qatari mediator had passed Iran's terms to Washington, and that both Qatar and Pakistan were in continuous consultations with Tehran. According to Rezaei, the Americans are already aware of the conditions, and Iran is waiting for them to accept and implement them. "America must implement our conditions first, and only then can negotiations follow," he said.

Nuclear posture

On Iran's nuclear doctrine, Rezaei said Tehran remains committed to the fatwa of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and that its position has not changed. He added, however, that Iran is now considering whether to withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty, saying the decision would depend on American conduct.

Yemen and the Houthis

Rezaei also said Iran wants an end to the war between Saudi Arabia and Yemen, and believes the Yemeni side is seeking an agreement with Riyadh. He said Tehran is prepared to help achieve peace if asked.

His remarks came as the Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile fired at Riyadh at dawn on Saturday, after a fire broke out near the Saudi capital's international airport. The Houthis said they had targeted "sensitive sites" without specifying locations. Yemen's internationally recognised government condemned the attacks in the strongest terms, calling them a blatant violation of Saudi sovereignty and accusing Tehran of continuing to supply the group with military support.

Trump's early return

US President Donald Trump cut short a weekend at Camp David and returned unexpectedly to the White House on Saturday as his administration weighs its next steps in the Iran war. No explanation was given for the change; he had arrived late Friday and was originally due to stay until Sunday.

A national security analyst said on X that he had been told the Camp David meeting was meant to deliberate and review options for strikes on Yemen, and that US embassies across the Middle East had issued warnings over possible retaliation.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly called Trump twice on Thursday urging strikes against the Houthis as the group closed in on a vital Red Sea chokepoint. Trump declined, and US officials stressed the administration has no plans to intervene directly against the Houthis for now.

Oil prices have surged as the Houthis seized a strategic coastal city in Yemen, bringing them closer to the Bab al-Mandab Strait. With Iran already disrupting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, Houthi control of Bab al-Mandab could give Tehran new leverage over the US and its Gulf allies. A former US diplomat said Washington is likely to get involved at some point, though the form that would take remains unclear. Trump is also preparing for the UN General Assembly, where the Iran war is expected to be a major focus.