Russian envoy Ulyanov backs Iran's readiness to negotiate with US on mutual respect

Russian envoy Mikhail Ulyanov said in a post on X that Iran stands ready to negotiate with the United States on the basis of mutual respect, adding that Washington needs to be guided by the word mutual. His remarks were reported by Mehr News Agency.

The statement came as Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi addressed the prospects for ending the current conflict. Speaking on Tuesday, Araghchi said the war will not end either through military means or by increasing sanctions, but only through using the language of respect. He said the United States must act on Iran's demands and conditions for any negotiated outcome to be possible.

Ulyanov's comments echo Tehran's stated position that diplomacy, rather than pressure or military action, is the path to resolving the standoff. The Russian envoy's intervention places the emphasis on reciprocity, suggesting that any talks would require both sides to approach negotiations on equal terms.

Araghchi's remarks set out Iran's conditions for a negotiated end to hostilities, rejecting both continued military operations and expanded sanctions as viable routes. Instead, he framed respect and responsiveness to Iran's demands as the basis for any agreement.

The exchange of statements comes amid ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States, with diplomatic channels and public messaging continuing alongside the conflict. According to Mehr News Agency, Ulyanov's post and Araghchi's comments together underline the emphasis Tehran and its partners place on mutual respect as a precondition for talks.