Iran Denies Plans for New Round of Talks with US

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei denied that Tehran had any plans for a new round of talks with the United States, and said that a “10-point proposal” had been submitted to Pakistan.

He told reporters, “The US violated the ceasefire from the outset, and we informed the Pakistani mediator of this. By imposing a naval blockade on us, they violated the ceasefire agreement.”

He added, “We cannot forget the US attack on us during our previous negotiations, and we have not yet decided whether to participate in the next round of talks.”

He continued, “We will make the appropriate decision regarding the negotiations carefully, taking our interests into account,” noting that the Strait of Hormuz was secure before the US-Israeli attacks, and that the international community must bear its responsibility for the US and Israel endangering the security of the strait.

In this context, a high-ranking Iranian source said that disagreements over the nuclear program persist, and the gaps have not narrowed, adding, “The continued US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz undermines US-Iran peace talks.” The source added, “Iran’s defense capabilities, including its missile program, are non-starters.”

This comes as Pakistani authorities prepared on Monday to host the second round of talks, despite lingering doubts about whether the negotiations will actually take place.

Officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press, said that Pakistan has intensified its diplomatic contacts since Sunday with both Washington and Tehran to ensure the talks begin as soon as possible, perhaps on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed concern over the seizure of the Iranian cargo ship, stating, “We hope that the parties concerned will act responsibly to abide by the ceasefire agreement.”

It added, “The current situation is at a critical juncture, and China will play a constructive role.”

“Military and security cooperation between countries should not undermine mutual understanding.” (Agencies)