Politics1 min read

Iranian top negotiator says Iran has no desire for war to continue

By · Via Middle East Eye · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf indicated that an agreement with the United States remains achievable if previous understandings are respected and actions undermining trust cease. Tehran has already provided its specific terms, but the Trump administration has yet to formally respond. In addition to calling for diplomacy, Ghalibaf accused Washington of restricting Iran's access to vital healthcare services, global trade, and food supplies. He also revealed that American officials sought Russian mediation in Moscow to help facilitate direct bilateral negotiations.

Key points

  • Diplomatic progress depends on Washington providing a formal response to the specific dem…: Diplomatic progress depends on Washington providing a formal response to the specific demands submitted by Iranian negotiators.
  • Tehran is committed to resolving the prolonged state of neither war nor peace through dip…: Tehran is committed to resolving the prolonged state of neither war nor peace through diplomacy or deterrence.
  • A functional bilateral agreement requires the United States to honor prior understandings…: A functional bilateral agreement requires the United States to honor prior understandings and halt trust-eroding actions.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Parliament speaker and head of the Iranian negotiating team, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said in an interview with Al Jazeera on Wednesday that Iran has no desire to continue the war with the US, but the ball is in Washington's court for peace talks.

Ghalibaf said that Iran provided the US with a clear and transparent response outlining their demands, but the Trump administration has not yet reponded.

An agreement with Washington is possible, he added, provided it adheres to what was previously agreed upon and refrains from actions that undermine trust and excessive demands.

He said that Iran is determined to move beyond the state of “no war, no peace”, through negotiations or a sustainable deterrence, and accused Washington of imposing a siege on Iran by blocking access to food and hindering trade and healthcare services.

Finally, Ghalibaf told Al Jazeera that the US visited Moscow and asked Putin to speak with Iran to facilitate direct negotiations between us.

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