TEHRAN / WASHINGTON — Iranian officials have publicly ruled out future diplomatic negotiations with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, declaring an intent to manage a strategy of “neither war nor peace” and wait out the remainder of Trump’s presidential term through January 20, 2029.
The shift in Iranian diplomatic strategy was outlined by Majid Shakeri, a senior advisor to Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
“Trump will not reach an agreement with us. We will accompany him until his term ends,” Shakeri stated in a public post carried by Iranian media outlets.
Detailing Tehran’s long-term posture, Shakeri emphasized that Iran would adopt a strategy focused on diplomatic ambiguity and resistance rather than formal talks or direct military engagement.
“The path to victory is neither fighting nor a deal — it is managing the process of neither war nor peace, up to the point of victory,” Shakeri wrote. “Publicly confirming negotiations with the U.S. is sheer folly. The winning approach is denial, ambiguity, and strategic patience.”
The declaration follows Tehran’s previously announced nine conditions for reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz, which include $300 billion in war damages compensation, the unconditional release of frozen Iranian financial assets, the complete withdrawal of U.S. military forces from the region, and a total ban on U.S. and Israeli vessels entering the shipping corridor.
With Tehran cementing its stance against bilateral negotiations and refusing to relax its posture along the narrow transit corridor, international shipping lines and global energy markets face an extended period of friction and heightened maritime security risks across the Persian Gulf.
