Iran has set out three conditions for reopening negotiations with the United States as fighting continues into its sixth month, while fresh attacks claimed by Yemen’s Houthi rebels brought renewed security concerns to Saudi Arabia.
Iran’s national security chief, Mohsen Rezaei, said Tehran wants an end to the war on all fronts, the unfreezing of Iranian funds and an end to the US naval blockade around the Strait of Hormuz before negotiations can resume. He said the conditions had been conveyed to Washington through intermediaries, according to The Independent, citing an interview with Al Jazeera.
Rezaei said talks involving Qatari and Pakistani mediators were continuing, but Iran was still waiting for a response from the US. An Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson later confirmed that Tehran had not received any message from Washington in response to its conditions.
The diplomatic development came as tensions spread beyond the immediate US-Iran confrontation. Black smoke was seen rising near Riyadh’s main airport on Saturday after explosions were heard, prompting Saudi authorities to issue overnight alerts covering Riyadh and the nearby city of Al-Kharj before an all-clear was announced.
The Iran-aligned Houthi movement later claimed responsibility for missile and drone attacks targeting sites in Riyadh and an Aramco facility in Yanbu, according to Reuters. The group has intensified attacks on Saudi-linked targets and Red Sea shipping since announcing a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia in July.
The latest escalation is also adding pressure around the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, where a commercial tanker was reported hit by a projectile. The waterway remains a major focus of the conflict because of its importance to global oil shipments. The US says its forces have escorted commercial vessels through the area, while Iran has opposed the US blockade.
US President Donald Trump has meanwhile indicated that Washington is considering further military action against Iran, saying he faces a “big decision” over whether to resume major attacks. Earlier this week, Trump also said the conflict was hopefully approaching its conclusion and claimed Tehran had reached out directly to Washington.
With diplomatic channels still operating through Qatar and Pakistan while attacks continue in the Gulf and Red Sea, the latest developments leave any immediate return to direct US-Iran negotiations dependent on whether Washington responds to Tehran’s conditions. The Independent reported the developments in its September 19, 2026 live coverage.
