Iran is pursuing negotiations with the United States “in good faith” despite viewing Washington with “deep suspicion,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Wednesday night, confirming that multiple rounds of messages have been exchanged through Pakistani intermediaries based on Tehran’s 14-point peace proposal.
Speaking in a televised interview, Esmaeil Baghaei elaborated on the latest developments regarding Iran-US talks aimed at ending the war. He said Iran has received the American side’s viewpoints and is reviewing them, adding, “The presence of the Pakistani interior minister [in Tehran] aims to facilitate these exchanges of views.”
At this stage, Baghaei noted, Iran is focused solely on ending the war on “all fronts, including Lebanon.”
Iran’s clear demands
“Our demands are clear: the issue related to the release of Iran’s frozen assets, issues related to maritime piracy, and the harassing actions they are taking against the shipping of the Islamic Republic of Iran. These are issues that have been declared very clearly from the beginning,” the spokesperson emphasized.
Deep distrust, but serious intent
Baghaei reaffirmed Iran’s “complete goodwill and seriousness” in the talks, while insisting the American side must prove its own seriousness. He explained that Tehran is negotiating with Washington in an atmosphere of deep distrust, given the US’s “very bad” record over the past 1.5 years.
Nevertheless, Baghaei reiterated, Iran is pursuing negotiations with the US “with all our might and in complete good faith.”
“Our eyes are open, and our Armed Forces are vigilant because we absolutely cannot have the slightest trust or goodwill toward the opposing side,” he said.
No ultimatums, no pressure tactics
Baghaei dismissed claims about the US setting an ultimatum or deadline for Iran as “ridiculous,” emphasizing that Tehran pursues its own interests regardless of such threatening behaviors and pressures.
“We are focused on pursuing our interests and our rights regardless of threatening rhetoric. Therefore, such things definitely do not work with the Islamic Republic of Iran. We are doing our own thing,” he stated.
14-point proposal submitted
On Monday, Iran submitted its latest proposal — in 14 points — through the Pakistani intermediary for talks with the United States aimed at ending what Tehran calls “the illegal US-Israeli war of aggression against the Islamic Republic.”
According to reports, the proposal focused on the subject of negotiations and confidence-building measures by the American side, after Washington sent a text in response to Iran’s previous proposal, which was also presented in 14 points.
Tehran maintains that at the current stage, negotiations will only focus on ending the war in the region, and that other issues — including the nuclear program — may be discussed later.
Araghchi’s possible New York visit
Elsewhere in his interview, Baghaei pointed to a likely visit by Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to New York to attend a UN Security Council meeting initiated by China.
“It is a regular meeting that China, as the rotating president of the Security Council in May, has organized, and its topic focuses on promoting international peace and security based on the principles of the United Nations Charter,” the spokesman explained.
He added that the meeting is scheduled to be held at the foreign ministerial level next week, and Iran has been invited to participate.