Tehran, April 20: Iran's Foreign Ministry has confirmed that Tehran currently has no intention of pursuing another round of negotiations with the United States. The statement, reported by state media outlet Tasnim news agency, comes as international mediators had hoped for a follow-up to the talks held in Islamabad, just as the looming ceasefire deadline approaches.
Esmaeil Baqaei, the ministry’s spokesperson, emphasized on Monday that there are no plans for additional discussions with Washington at this time. His comments underscore a growing diplomatic impasse, with officials suggesting that the present environment is not conducive to productive talks.
Further elaborating on Iran’s position, Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian Parliament's National Security Committee, spoke to Al Jazeera, stressing that Iran’s diplomatic engagements are dictated by national interests and security priorities. Azizi indicated that while Tehran is open to negotiations, these efforts must align with its core security objectives. He declared, “Iran acts based on national interests” and stressed that the country would take whatever steps necessary to ensure its security.
Azizi, a former commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), framed the ongoing diplomatic efforts as an extension of Iran's military strategies. He remarked, "We view negotiations as an extension of the battlefield, and see nothing but the battlefield in these talks." He further clarified that talks would only be meaningful if they achieved outcomes consistent with the gains made on the battlefield, warning that any attempt by the US to impose excessive demands would undermine the process.
The senior lawmaker emphasized that while Iran is committed to dialogue with Washington, this does not mean negotiations will occur at any cost. He reaffirmed that Iran has set clear red lines, which must be respected in any future discussions. According to Azizi, any potential diplomatic engagement in Islamabad will depend on receiving "constructive feedback" and a "positive signal" from the US.
Among the key issues Iran insists on, Azizi highlighted the importance of the Lebanon issue and the release of frozen Iranian assets, stressing that these conditions must be met. He warned that actions contradicting Iran’s interests—especially actions against the "resistance front"—would be seen as a rejection of the terms set by Tehran, leading to inevitable consequences.
The remarks come at a pivotal moment, as the current ceasefire is set to expire on April 22. The first round of talks between Tehran and Washington reached an impasse over critical issues, including the strategic Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear program. With the ceasefire set to end on Wednesday, the Islamabad talks represent the last opportunity for a diplomatic solution before the situation risks escalating into broader conflict.
While the US maintains that a "fair and reasonable" agreement remains on the table, Iran’s resistance to negotiations under the "shadow of a blockade" suggests that the previous round of discussions was only a precursor to what could potentially be a far more intense confrontation.
