Atfi Toguiani, a professor of political science at the University of Tehran, stated that Iran's position on its nuclear program is very clear: Iran will not make any concessions unless Washington first meets its conditions. Toguiani pointed out that Iran's core demands on the US can be summarized in two points: "ending the war and confrontation against Iran," and "some form of compensation, such as lifting the blockade or alleviating the economic burden." She emphasized that if the US wants Iran to trust and return to the negotiating table, it must reaffirm its past commitments. "If the Iranians are going to make commitments on anything, the Americans must also fulfill their own commitments. Iran must see its preconditions met before it will enter into negotiations on other issues." Toguiani summarized Tehran's position as a clear exchange logic: "If you meet these conditions, we might enter into negotiations to address US concerns about the nuclear issue." However, she also pointed out that the US "will not back down on sanctions" in the short term because Washington sees sanctions as an effective tool for pressure, and "economic pressure is their only available option." This means that although Iran has set preconditions for negotiations, the fundamental differences between the two sides on sanctions and compliance issues will remain the main obstacle to breaking the deadlock.
