“Regarding the details of discussions related to the nuclear issue, no negotiations have taken place at this stage. I emphasise once again that our focus at this stage is on ending the war,” Baghaei told a press conference.
His remarks came after Trump rejected a CNN report questioning the scope of a proposed agreement with Iran, saying in a social media post that the deal “states, very clearly, that Iran will not have a Nuclear Weapon” and goes into “very strong and lengthy detail” on nuclear-related issues.
Baghaei said talks were taking place in an atmosphere of “intense suspicion and mistrust” and stressed that diplomacy should not be confused with confidence between the two sides.
“Negotiations have begun amidst intense suspicion and mistrust, and the exchange of messages is also taking place within this same atmosphere,” he said.
“The second point is that negotiation or diplomacy itself is not a sign or a product of trust between the negotiating parties. We must separate these concepts from each other.”
The spokesperson also accused Washington of shifting its positions during the diplomatic process.
“One of the main challenges of negotiating with the current ruling administration in the United States is precisely these frequent changes in positions and contradictory stances,” he said.
Baghaei linked progress in negotiations to developments in the wider regional conflict, saying a ceasefire in Lebanon was an essential component of any broader agreement to end the war between Iran and the US.
“A ceasefire in Lebanon is an integral part of any agreement to end the war with the US,” he said.
He also criticised the United Nations for failing to act, saying the organisation was “merely acting as a spectator” while warning that the consequences of the conflict would extend beyond the West Asian region and affect global peace and security.
“Whenever it is necessary for us to take action regarding nuclear issues, we know very well how to proceed,” Baghaei added.
(Edited by : Tenzin Norzom)
