Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, rejected Vladimir Putin's proposal, the President of Russia, for mediation in the dispute with the United States. This decision was made following a phone call between Rezaei and Putin, and the reason given was the expectation of an increase in Iran's bargaining power in the near future.
Expectations from Oil Prices
Reliable sources have reported that one of the main reasons for rejecting this proposal was the forecast of rising oil prices and its transformation into a "heavier pressure tool" in the near future. Brent crude oil prices unexpectedly dropped by 9 percent following the U.S. midterm elections but quickly returned to levels close to $100 per barrel. These price fluctuations reflect market expectations of continued tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and increased pressure on American public opinion to end this dispute.
Iran's Position in Negotiations
Iran has previously emphasized that it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz and will not engage in any negotiations in this regard until its seven stipulated conditions are fully met. This approach reflects Iran's strategy of using high oil prices as leverage against the United States. With rising oil prices, Tehran hopes to achieve more favorable conditions in any negotiations.
Russia, as an old defense trade partner of Iran, is naturally involved in this dispute due to its close relations with Tehran. This country provides satellite information to Iran's military forces and its Houthi allies, and this data is used to improve the accuracy of missile and drone attacks against U.S. military forces in the Middle East.
It seems that Mohsen Rezaei, by rejecting Putin's mediation proposal, believes that Iran should exploit the current situation to its advantage and wait for a time when it can enter negotiations with greater power.
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