Tehran argues it holds leverage in negotiations as regional ceasefire arrangements and battlefield incidents complicate diplomacy
Two linked briefings published on 10 and 11 April 2026 capture a tense phase in the conflict between Iran, the US and regional actors. On 11 Apr 2026, Iran’s deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi told visiting envoys that Tehran began talks from a position of strength, a framing that shapes Iran’s negotiating stance.
An earlier explainer, updated on 10 Apr 2026, outlined how a Pakistan-mediated ceasefire between the US and Iran has taken effect but left major questions about its scope, enforcement and regional spillover.
The public details matter for both diplomatic momentum and domestic politics.
Iran has seen large demonstrations commemorating the slain supreme leader and other high-profile figures, including the death of former foreign minister Kamal Kharrazi. In this atmosphere, Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued a written message stating that the Islamic Republic has no desire for war with the US or Israel but will defend its rights.
Meanwhile, humanitarian agencies including the Red Cross and Turkiye’s Red Crescent reported convoys and urgent aid operations to respond to widespread damage and displacement.
How Iran frames its bargaining position
Tehran’s messaging emphasizes leverage and practical aims. Officials argue that a failed campaign to secure decisive strategic gains against Iran has left Washington negotiating from a weaker hand, and that Iran can press for sanctions relief and a reintegration into the global economy. Analysts such as Alex Vatanka from the Middle East Institute suggest Tehran’s playbook includes seeking the removal of both primary and secondary sanctions to encourage foreign investment, though he warns that measures like control over the Strait of Hormuz are not long-term revenue solutions. The Iranian line is calibrated to extract economic concessions while signalling readiness to protect strategic interests.
Domestic politics and leadership losses
Domestic developments reinforce Tehran’s posture. Nationwide rallies have been staged to honour the assassinated leader Ali Khamenei, and the death of senior figures has further galvanized public sentiment. The new leader’s public note — published amid the tensions — sought to reassure that Iran does not seek escalation, but it also underscored a pledge to defend national rights. These dynamics are shaping both Iran’s public diplomacy and the negotiating tone presented to international mediators such as the UN envoy.
Ceasefire implementation and regional flashpoints
The Pakistan-brokered truce between the US and Iran remains fragile in practice. Officials on both sides have accused each other of violations, and differences over the ceasefire’s reach are fuelling secondary conflicts across the region. US Vice President JD Vance led a delegation to Pakistan for follow-up talks, while analysts including Omar Rahman described mutual distrust as “completely negligible,” warning that the gap between Iran’s 10-point plan and the US 15-point proposal is wide. UN envoy Jean Arnault met Iranian officials in Tehran and travelled to damaged sites, signalling the UN’s continued engagement.
Lebanon, Israel and wider spillover
Tensions have escalated along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon. Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he ordered officials to open direct negotiations with Beirut “as soon as possible,” after Lebanon declared a day of mourning for at least 200 people killed and more than 1,000 wounded in recent strikes. Israel’s evacuation warnings and expanded ground operations around towns such as Bint Jbeil have amplified humanitarian concerns and drawn international calls for restraint. Hezbollah’s leadership has urged Lebanon’s government not to concede to Israel, while Israel continues to warn it will strike whenever it deems necessary.
Economic and international responses
The conflict has struck energy and diplomatic arteries. French energy company TotalEnergies announced the shutdown of the SATORP refinery after damage during the fighting, and Saudi authorities reported multiple attacks on oil and gas infrastructure. In response, international leaders, including the UK prime minister Keir Starmer, toured Gulf capitals to push for de-escalation and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic. US President Donald Trump has said US forces will remain in the region until a “real agreement” is enforced and warned Iran against imposing tolls on passage through the strait.
Diplomatic channels continue to multiply: Israel and Lebanon have been invited to talks in Washington, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation condemned new Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and coordination efforts in Gaza saw diplomatic frictions after Spain was removed from a civil-military hub. A drone strike on a US facility in Iraq prompted a formal protest from Washington and illustrates the wider risk of escalation even as ceasefire negotiations proceed. As mediators seek to translate ceasefire pledges into concrete terms, Tehran’s assertion that it entered talks from a position of strength will test whether political leverage can deliver durable, verifiable outcomes.
