Iran foreign ministry says US must “abandon its excessive demands”
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said on Monday that the United States must reduce its demands on Tehran, as negotiations aimed at ending the war remain stalled.
In remarks reported by state television, he said: “Our priority at this stage is ending the war. We cannot ignore the lessons of the past. We have engaged in nuclear talks twice before and were attacked by the United States during those negotiations.”
Baghaei said the other side must adopt “a reasonable approach and abandon excessive demands toward Iran.”
He noted that talks between the two countries have been suspended since the ceasefire came into effect on April 8, with only one round of direct negotiations held so far, which failed to produce a breakthrough.
One of the key points of dispute includes Iran’s stance on the Strait of Hormuz and US countermeasures involving restrictions on Iranian ports.
On Sunday, US President Donald Trump said Washington would begin escorting stranded ships in the Gulf starting Monday, warning Iran against any attempt to obstruct the move, a statement that drew a warning response from Tehran.
Baghaei said: “The Americans should have realized by now that they cannot use the language of threats and force against the Iranian people.”
He added: “The Islamic Republic has shown that it considers itself the guardian and guarantor of the Strait of Hormuz.”
