In brief
- Iran says it has made good progress in peace talks with the US.
- However, it also says that it isn’t quite ready to make a deal.
Iran has announced that it has reached several understandings with the United States in ongoing discussions about a potential deal to conclude the conflict. However, they caution that an agreement is not yet on the horizon.
During a weekly press conference on Monday, foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei stated, “We have indeed reached conclusions on many of the topics being discussed.”
However, Baqaei emphasized that claiming a deal is imminent would be premature, criticizing the US for “contradictions” and frequent changes in their stance.
This statement follows Iran’s recent announcement that it is working to finalize a 14-point framework aimed at resolving the war with the US, which began on February 28.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested that a peace deal with Iran might be possible by Monday, though US President Donald Trump has advised his negotiators not to hasten the process.
During the press conference, Baqaei insisted that the framework being drafted “is focused on ending the war” across the region, including in Lebanon.
He reiterated that details on Iran’s nuclear program — a key sticking point for the US — were not included and that the issue would only be discussed after the two sides agree on the framework.
Clauses on ending the US naval blockade on Iranian ports, in place since 13 April, and arrangements on the strategic Strait of Hormuz were included, he said.
“US actions under the title of a naval blockade must be stopped, and at the same time, the Islamic Republic of Iran will take the necessary measures for safe transit in the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.
Traffic through Hormuz, a vital global shipping route, has come under Iranian control since the outbreak of the war.
Iran, which has only allowed a trickle of ships to pass through the strait, has insisted that vessels obtain permission from its armed forces before transiting the waterway.
Baqaei said Iran was not imposing tolls on ships transiting the strait but rather collecting fees for “navigational services”.
“The services that are provided — navigational services in addition to the measures necessary to protect the environment of the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman — require the collection of certain fees,” he said, adding that Iran was “not seeking to collect tolls”.
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