Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said that negotiations are conducted privately and denied reports of a temporary deal with the United States. “We do not confirm any of the speculation,” he said. Baghaei also dismissed claims by some U.S. officials that Iran is close to developing nuclear weapons. He called conflicting statements from Washington “nothing new” and said Iran will continue talks only if they are fair and productive.
He warned that forcing one side to accept the other’s demands will not work. “We believe in the legitimacy of our views, and we will continue this process as long as it can lead to results,” Baghaei said. He added that Iran met its 2025 obligations for inspecting peaceful nuclear facilities. However, Iran has no agreed procedure for inspecting sites damaged by foreign attacks.
Baghaei said Iran now considers the military forces of EU countries in the Persian Gulf as a terrorist presence, following the labeling of their naval and air forces. “From now on, their presence will be seen differently, and you can guess the consequences,” he said. He rejected claims that Iran is “buying time” and said the country is ready to continue talks without interruption. “If it leads to war, our forces will respond,” he added, noting that Iran’s military monitors developments closely.
He said sanctions aim to create economic hardship and public dissatisfaction. Iran will defend its national interests if it sees manipulation or deception in negotiations. Baghaei also said cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency must follow Iranian law. He added that any deal must recognize Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear energy. Finally, he accused Israel of trying to disrupt negotiations. “They want to replace ‘America First’ with ‘Israel First’ in diplomatic processes,” Baghaei said.