Iran Rejects 'Neither War Nor Peace' Without Its Conditions Being Met

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has reiterated that ending the war depends on meeting Tehran's conditions, linking a resolution to the current "neither war nor peace" stalemate with national security, control of the Strait of Hormuz and closer relations with neighboring countries.

In a meeting with Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Secretary Mohsen Rezaei on October 27, Khamenei called for protecting Iran's interests and those of the "Resistance Front" through the implementation of conditions established by Iranian officials, according to Iranian state-linked media and his official account.

No new concessions or timeline for ending the conflict were announced.

Hormuz At The Center Of Iran's Position

Khamenei identified the management of the Strait of Hormuz as a priority for protecting Iranian and regional security. His remarks reinforce Tehran's position that control of the strategic waterway remains central to any arrangement to end the conflict.

Rezaei has previously said Iran will not reopen the strait or resume negotiations until its conditions are fulfilled. Under the sequence he has described, commitments must first be implemented, after which Tehran would decide whether to reopen the waterway, with subsequent maritime traffic governed by new arrangements agreed with Oman.

Iranian officials have cited the failure of a June memorandum, under which the strait was reopened before commitments were fulfilled, as a reason for insisting on that sequence.

Conditions For Ending The Stalemate

Iran's conditions have been described as a package of seven demands conveyed through mediators, including Qatar and Oman. Tehran has not published a single authoritative list, but reported elements include an end to hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon, and the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports.

Other reported demands include the release of frozen assets, the removal of oil sanctions, an end to U.S. military operations and threats, the withdrawal of U.S. forces near Iran's borders, war compensation and non-interference in Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities.

Recognition of Iran's management rights over the Strait of Hormuz is also among the reported conditions. Rezaei has warned that renewed hostilities could prompt Iran to target communications cables, regional data centers and artificial intelligence facilities linked to the U.S.

Security Council's Role In Government Policy

Khamenei described the SNSC as a central forum for coordinating national decisions, arguing that security policy cannot be separated from cultural, political and economic considerations. He called for a comprehensive roadmap covering each stage of the decision-making process.

He also urged the government to strengthen public trust and national cohesion, while using the powers provided by the Constitution, particularly Article 176 governing the SNSC, to help the president and executive bodies address domestic problems more quickly.

Khamenei said the enemy's frustration reflected Iran's national resistance and stressed the need for timely, active public communication to sustain public participation in the country's defense.

Rezaei presented a report on domestic conditions and the SNSC secretariat's work on developing what Iranian officials describe as "endogenous regional arrangements and order."

Regional Ties And Security Cooperation

The meeting followed a four-way regional security gathering in Tehran on October 26, hosted by Rezaei and attended by Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman, Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir and Türkiye's intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin.

The participants agreed to continue discussions on cooperation over regional peace and security. Rezaei said the visits demonstrated that "American threats do not have much influence on countries around the world."

Khamenei also called for strengthening bilateral relations with neighboring states on the basis of sustainable mutual interests, placing regional engagement alongside domestic unity and control of Hormuz among his stated priorities.

Khamenei Remains Out Of Public View

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf also met Khamenei on October 27 and described him as being in "full health."

Khamenei succeeded his father, Ali Khamenei, after the elder leader was killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes in late February 2026. Appointed by the Assembly of Experts in March, the new supreme leader has not appeared publicly since taking office, communicating primarily through written messages and reported private meetings.

Iranian officials have said he is healthy amid reports of injuries. The latest meetings provide no new public timetable for an appearance or further details about the conditions required to end the war.