Iran says peace agreement with US 'not imminent' despite 'conclusion on many issues'
Tehran, May 25
Iran on Monday said that an agreement aimed at a complete solution to the hostilities in West Asia with the United States is 'not imminent' despite progress made on several key issues between the two sides.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei, during a weekly press briefing, said that the developments in negotiations reported in recent days were the result of "several weeks of talks" conducted through Pakistani mediators, who have been acting as a diplomatic channel between Washington and Tehran since the talks began without yielding any significant outcome.
Baghaei also criticised what he described as inconsistent messaging from Washington, saying that "politics in America has reached a point of hyperbole".
"The developments that have been reported in the last few days were the product of several weeks of talks through a Pakistani mediator. It is true that we have reached a conclusion on many issues, but no one can claim that the signing of the agreement is imminent," he stated, as quoted by Iranian state media Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.
"Politics in America has reached a point of hyperbole. The fact that we are faced with contradictory views from American officials in a matter of hours makes any dialogue difficult," Baghaei added.
The spokesperson further highlighted Iran's close ties with China and Russia, saying both countries had played a "constructive" and "positive" role in diplomatic processes concerning regional security and discussions at the United Nations Security Council.
"China has a very good relationship with us, and we have a strategic partnership," Baghaei said, adding that Beijing had consistently contributed positively to regional and international discussions involving Iran.
He also referred to a recent joint meeting between Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Majid Takht Ravanchi and the ambassadors of China and Russia, during which the latest regional developments were reviewed.
Baghaei also emphasised Chinese President Xi Jinping's four-point proposal plan for regional security, which Iran considered valuable.
The point proposal emphasises regional peace, respect for sovereignty, adherence to international law, and coordinated development. The plan calls for a cooperative security framework in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf, protection of territorial integrity and critical infrastructure, upholding international norms, and promoting economic cooperation to ensure long-term regional stability and growth.
Earlier in the day, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that a "pretty solid" proposal is currently on the table between Tehran and Washington while insisting that US President Donald Trump will not make a bad deal.
Addressing the press before his departure to Agra, where he will visit the Taj Mahal, Rubio said, "We're still a work in progress... I think it is a pretty solid thing on the table in terms of their ability to open up the straits, get the straits open, and enter into a very real, significant time-limited negotiation on the nuclear matters. And hopefully we can pull it off."
"As the president said, he's not in a hurry, he's not going to make a bad deal. We're going to give diplomacy every chance to succeed before we explore the alternatives," Rubio added.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Marco Rubio visiting the Taj Mahal while discussing war and peace? That's some contrast! Anyway, India has always supported peaceful negotiations. The Chinese four-point plan sounds reasonable - respecting sovereignty and international law is the way forward. Let's just hope this doesn't turn into another Middle Eastern crisis that affects our energy security.
As an Indian, I see these negotiations with a bit of skepticism. Iran keeps saying it's not imminent, America says there's progress - who to believe? Our country has good relations with both Iran and the US, but we should be careful about getting dragged into someone else's conflict. Stay neutral and prioritize our own interests! 🇮🇳
From a Western perspective, this seems like typical diplomatic posturing. But the mention of Chinese and Russian involvement shows how complex this has become. The US can't just dictate terms anymore, especially with other global powers backing Iran. Let's see if Trump's administration can actually finalize something meaningful.
That comment from Baghaei about American politics reaching 'hyperbole' is so true - look at how quickly US officials change their statements! But I'm also concerned about Iran's close ties with China and Russia. For India, we need to balance our relationships. The nuclear deal is important, but so is stability in the Strait of Hormuz for our oil imports. 😬
I appreciate that both sides are at least talking, but this has been going on for years now. Pakistan as a mediator is ironic given their own issues with terrorism. The Chinese plan sounds good on paper, but implementation is the real challenge. India needs to ensure its own
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