In a significant update on Middle Eastern diplomacy, Iran's Foreign Ministry has clarified the current trajectory of its negotiations with the United States. According to spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, the primary focus of ongoing discussions is to secure an end to the war, with nuclear concerns currently sidelined.
Baghaei indicated that while progress has been made and conclusions have been reached on several topics within a potential memorandum of understanding (MoU), Tehran is not yet close to signing a formal agreement. This strategic approach suggests a phased diplomatic process, prioritizing immediate stability over long-term nuclear frameworks.
Adding weight to this position, reports from the Iran Students News Agency and senior diplomats confirm that the preliminary draft agreement contains no commitments regarding nuclear issues or highly enriched uranium. A senior Iranian source emphasized that the nuclear discourse is reserved for negotiations leading to a final agreement and is explicitly not part of the current deal. Consequently, there has been no agreement to ship highly enriched uranium stockpiles out of the country.
President Masoud Pezeshkian has further reinforced this stance, stating that Iran is prepared to assure the international community that it does not seek nuclear weapons. In a broader commentary on regional security, President Pezeshkian asserted that Iran does not seek instability, instead pointing toward Israel as the entity attempting to destabilize the region.
Beyond the conflict and nuclear issues, the negotiations have touched upon strategic waterways. Baghaei noted that Iran will not discuss specific details regarding control over the Strait of Hormuz within the MoU, maintaining that the management of the strait remains the exclusive concern of the Gulf littoral states.
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Iran says talks with US focused on ending war, not nuclear issues
cgtn.com
