Iran says progress made in US talks, but no deal is imminent

• Iran says progress made, but no deal is near.
• Tehran says ending the war is its top priority, not nuclear talks.
• Draft agreement includes halting attacks on Lebanon.
• Iran says US positions shift constantly, offers no guarantees.
• Tehran coordinates Hormuz security with Gulf states, rejects transit toll claims.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei has provided a comprehensive update on indirect negotiations with Washington.

Revealing that while technical teams have successfully concluded discussions on several key files, a final agreement remains far from finalized.

Speaking at a press briefing, Baghaei cautioned against premature expectations of a diplomatic breakthrough, explicitly stating that "no one can say we are close to reaching an agreement."

He emphasized that the state's diplomatic apparatus is working meticulously to secure the best possible solutions to safeguard Iran's national interests.

Priority for peace, not Nuclear file

Tehran clarified its immediate diplomatic priorities, confirming a major structural shift in the parameters of the current talks.

"At this stage, we are not talking about the nuclear file. Our focus is entirely on ending the war." Baghaei stated.

A central component of this effort is ensuring regional stability.

Baghaei formally confirmed that an explicit clause mandating a complete halt to all military aggression against Lebanon has been successfully integrated into the draft agreement.

This diplomatic momentum and the structural changes observed over the past few weeks are the direct result of ongoing high-level mediation led by Pakistan alongside other regional countries.

Distrust Washington, retaliation warnings

Despite the ongoing negotiations, the Foreign Ministry expressed deep skepticism regarding the reliability of the United States as a diplomatic partner.

Baghaei noted that Washington continuously shifts its political positions, sometimes radically altering its stance within the span of a few hours.

Consequently, Tehran emphasized that there are no concrete guarantees that the US will honor its vows, declaring that Iran remains indifferent to American threats and is focusing solely on locking in its own tangible interests.

On the military front, Baghaei delivered a stern warning to adversaries.

While noting that Iran reserves the right to choose the exact timing and parameters to respond to hostile actions -as it has done historically- he warned that "every aggressive step will face an Iranian response."

Hormuz governance

Addressing the volatile maritime landscape, Baghaei stated that Tehran is maintaining active communication channels with all littoral states bordering the Strait of Hormuz to preserve security and protect mutual interests.

The spokesperson sought to clarify Iranian policy regarding maritime traffic through the vital chokepoint, explicitly stating that Iran does not intend to impose arbitrary transit tolls on international shipping lanes.

Instead, any proposed financial levies are strictly intended to cover environmental protection protocols and safety measures.

Concluding the briefing, Baghaei leveled criticism at Western bodies, asserting that external military aggression was the sole catalyst that forced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

He urged the European Union to uphold international law, reiterating that maritime stability can only return once the underlying hostile actions against the region are permanently ceased.