Iran Sets Demands for Conflict Resolution with US, Including Reparations and Troop Withdrawal
TEHRAN, Iran – A key advisor to Iran’s supreme leader is laying out firm preconditions for ending the escalating conflict with the United States, demanding a full withdrawal of American forces from the Persian Gulf, comprehensive reparations for recent strikes, and ironclad security guarantees.
Mohsen Rezaee, a retired major general and former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), stated that the presence of US military forces in the region has been “the main cause of insecurity over the past 50 years.” His comments, published Saturday in an interview with Iran’s SNN TV broadcaster, signal a hardening of Iran’s position following recent military exchanges.
Rezaee, now a member of the Expediency Discernment Council, asserted that Tehran has “shattered America’s prestige” and anticipates emerging from the conflict with increased regional influence. He framed the potential for de-escalation as being firmly within Iran’s control, stating, “The end of the war is also in our hands.”
The call for reparations echoes similar statements from other Iranian officials. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, emphasized that “recognizing Iran’s legitimate rights, payment of reparations, and firm [international] guarantees against future aggression” are essential for any resolution. Newly appointed supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei also vowed to “extract reparations from the enemy” in his first public address, according to Iranian media reports.
These demands stand in stark contrast to the uncompromising stance taken by US President Donald Trump, who declared on his Truth Social platform last Friday that any deal with Iran would require “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER.”
The current conflict was triggered by massive airstrikes launched by the US and Israeli militaries on February 28, resulting in the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, and several senior commanders. Iranian authorities report over 1,300 civilian deaths as a result of the strikes, including at least 175 people killed when a suspected US Tomahawk cruise missile struck the Shajarah Tayyebeh girls’ school.
The escalating tensions and the high civilian death toll raise serious concerns about the potential for further regional instability. The demands for reparations and a US withdrawal represent a significant challenge to ongoing diplomatic efforts and underscore the deep-seated distrust between Washington and Tehran.
