Iran insists two-day peace talk proposal is most reasonable offer

DUBAI - Iranian officials on Monday stood firm on a proposal to restart peace talks on accelerated timelines, positioning the offer as a pragmatic middle ground amid escalating rhetoric from Washington. The defence came after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejected certain Iranian preconditions as unreasonable, signalling continued friction in diplomatic channels over the terms for resuming negotiations. Iran's insistence on the two-day proposal underscores Tehran's effort to demonstrate flexibility while maintaining its core demands in any future talks. The Iranian position suggests officials believe the condensed timeline could circumvent protracted preliminary negotiations and move directly to substantive discussions on the disputed nuclear programme. Rubio's dismissal of Iranian conditions reflects the incoming Trump administration's harder line on Iran policy and its scepticism of extended diplomatic engagement. The competing positions indicate significant daylight remains between the two sides on both the framework and substance of any renewed negotiations, with each party framing its stance as the reasonable alternative to the other's intransigence.