According to the Associated Press (AP), a senior official said Iran is not ready to hold direct talks with the United States at this stage, pointing to Washington’s excessive demands.
Speaking in Antalya, Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said discussions were continuing through messages, but key issues remained unresolved.
We cannot move forward in an actual meeting yet because the Americans still maintain their maximalist position,” he told the AP.
Uranium and sanctions remain major issues
Khatibzadeh rejected recent comments by US President Donald Trump, saying Iran will not send its enriched uranium to the United States.
“I can tell you that no enriched material will be sent to the United States. That’s a non-starter,” he said, as quoted by the AP.
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Trump had said the US would bring back nuclear material from Iranian sites damaged in earlier attacks.
Khatibzadeh also expressed concern over US sanctions. “Other parties must also understand and address our core concerns, which are illegal unilateral sanctions,” he said.
He said Iran wanted a “framework agreement” before any in-person meetings.
Ceasefire, regional tensions and Hormuz
The Iranian official said Iran’s actions in the region were defensive and linked to ongoing tensions in Lebanon, including conflicts involving Israel and Hezbollah.
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“Iran must stop the attackers once and for all,” he said, per the AP.
He said the talks with the US would also include a new Strait of Hormuz protocol.
“It will remain open and safe for all civilian routes,” he said.
The comments come as the US has maintained pressure on Iran and warned that further action could be taken if no agreement is reached.
