Iran’s top negotiator and parliament speaker Mohammad Bayr Galibaf told Pakistan’s armed forces chief Asim Mounir during talks in Tehran today that the US is not taking a sincere stance in negotiations to end the war and that Iran will not compromise on the issue of its national rights, the country’s state television reported.
A regional negotiating effort, led by Pakistan, is under way and aims to ease differences between Iran and the US after weeks of war that have left the vital Strait of Hormuz sea route closed to most ships despite the implementation of a fragile ceasefire.
Iranian state media reported that Mounir also met with President Massoud Pezzekian in the presence of Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, with whom he had two meetings, before flying out.
The talks reportedly focused on the 14-point document proposed by Iran, which it considers the basic framework for the talks, and messages exchanged between the two sides.
According to reports, the talks focused on the 14-point document proposed by Iran, which it considers the basic framework for the talks, and messages exchanged between the two sides.
Galibaf said Iran would defend its “legitimate rights” both on the battlefield and in negotiations, but added that it could not trust “a side that has no trace of sincerity”, a claim Iran has made several times in the past.
According to the Iranian official, Iran’s armed forces recovered their capabilities during the ceasefire and that if the US “stupidly restarted the war”, the consequences would be “more overwhelming and harsh” compared to the beginning of hostilities.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said yesterday that the US had seen more progress being made towards an agreement, but more work was needed, while the Iranian Foreign Ministry claimed the differences remained deep and significant.
