The Iran-U.S. negotiations have made initial progress, but there is still a gap to be bridged before a final agreement is reached, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday, according to Iranian media reports.
In an interview with local media, Ghalibaf said that despite the potential chaos caused by the loss of Iran's commander-in-chief, chief of staff, and commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the war, Iran responded swiftly. He said this demonstrates the robustness of Iran's organizational structure.
Ghalibaf said that Iran accepted the ceasefire to express its demands. Regarding the progress of negotiations with the United States, he said that the talks had not eliminated the distrust between the two sides, but both sides had gained a more pragmatic understanding of each other. Iran maintained its position on certain issues, and these demands were non-negotiable.
The Strait of Hormuz remains under Iran's control, said the speaker. During the Islamabad negotiations, the U.S. side attempted to conduct demining operations, but Iran responded firmly and regarded it as a violation of the ceasefire agreement, he said.
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Saturday night that Iran would not supply any enriched uranium to the United States. He said that while Iran is willing to address any legitimate concerns, it will not compromise on any unacceptable conditions.
Khatibzadeh also said that Iran is seeking to finalize the framework agreement before holding face-to-face talks. Furthermore, as part of negotiations with the United States, a new set of guidelines will be developed for the Strait of Hormuz, which will remain open to all civilian traffic and ensure security, he said.
Long way to go before reaching final agreement with US: Iranian official
