Iranian Spokesperson Baghaei: A deal is both very far and very close

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei gave an interview to Iranian media, addressing key points regarding the negotiation process with the US. Thanking the Islamabad administration for its mediation role in the indirect talks between Iran and the US, Baghaei referred to the visit of the Pakistani delegation to the capital, Tehran. Baghaei said, "The Pakistani delegation arrived in Iran last night. Before this, Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was also in our country for a few days."

Stating that Pakistan has played an important role as the primary mediator in the talks between Iran and the US in recent weeks, the spokesperson expressed that the purpose of the visit was to continue the exchange of messages between Iran and the US. Baghaei stated, "Our focus at this stage is to end this 'imposed' war, the details of which you more or less know. Based on Iran's 14-point proposal, the views of the parties have been conveyed to each other multiple times."

Baghaei noted that discussions have been held on various articles and expressions in recent days, adding, "There are still some topics that are subjects of disagreement. Evaluations on these issues are ongoing."

"A deal is both very far and very close"

When asked whether the parties were nearing a potential agreement following the meetings held today and in the last 24 hours, Baghaei replied, "Perhaps I can say it is both very far and very close."

Arguing that the US side has displayed contradictory attitudes, Baghaei said, "The Americans have changed their views many times, and contradictory statements have been made by different officials. Therefore, we cannot be entirely sure that this approach will not change again."

Despite this, Baghaei said that weeks of talks have brought the parties' positions closer together, while emphasizing that the term "rapprochement" does not mean a full consensus. "We can reach a win-win solution within the framework of certain parameters," he said.

"Final stage reached in memorandum of understanding"

Speaking about the framework of the negotiations, Baghaei said their primary goal is to prepare a 14-point memorandum of understanding. Baghaei stated, "This text will include the most important topics necessary to end the war and issues that are of fundamental importance to us. Then, a final agreement will be reached by negotiating the details within a reasonable period of 30 to 60 days."

Baghaei noted that the final stage has been reached in the draft text in question, and that the talks are currently focused on ending the war, lifting the US blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, and unfreezing Iran's assets.

"The Strait of Hormuz has nothing to do with the US"

Regarding developments in the Strait of Hormuz, Baghaei said, "The Strait of Hormuz has nothing to do with the US. This strait is between the coastal countries of Iran and Oman, and a mechanism regarding it must be defined."

The Iranian spokesperson said that the mechanisms to be developed with Oman to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz would be for the benefit of the international community. Stating that they are in contact with international authorized bodies as well as Oman, Baghaei expressed that they are continuing their contacts with other countries due to the importance of the Strait of Hormuz for the international community.

In response to a question about whether the issue of the Strait of Hormuz is included in the 14-point text, Baghaei said, "The issue of the Strait of Hormuz is naturally addressed in this memorandum of understanding. However, what is more important than this is the cessation of US piracy activities against international maritime transport."

Baghaei also argued that the international community has concluded that security problems in the Strait of Hormuz stem from the aggressive policies of the US and Israel.

"Our entire focus right now is on ending the war"

When asked about the role of the nuclear file in the negotiation process and whether articles related to this issue would be included in a potential agreement, Baghaei replied, "We are not talking about the details of the nuclear issue at this stage." Arguing that Iran's nuclear program has been used as a pretext for the last two wars waged against the Iranian people, Baghaei said, "We were subjected to illegal attacks even while nuclear negotiations were ongoing in the past."

Baghaei stated that for this reason, the priority at the current stage is to end the war on all fronts, adding, "This scope also includes Lebanon."

Stating that nuclear issues and other topics could be handled separately in later stages within a 30 to 60-day period to be agreed upon, Baghaei said, "Our entire focus right now is on ending the war."

"All sanctions must be lifted"

Touching upon the issue of sanctions against Iran, Baghaei argued that these practices are "illegal and inhumane." Stating that Iran's demand for the lifting of all sanctions is clearly included in the memorandum text, Baghaei said that the release of Iran's blocked resources is also among the priority topics.

"We will see how the process takes shape in the next three or four days"

In his assessment of the point reached in the negotiation process, Baghaei drew attention to the scale of the attacks by the US and Israel against Iran, saying, "With such a history, it cannot be expected to reach a final result in a short time. This also makes the work of the mediators difficult."

The Iranian spokesperson said, "Progress has been made in reducing disagreements in the last week. However, there are still topics that need to be renegotiated through mediators. We will see how the process takes shape in the next three or four days."

"I don't think anyone would dare to bring us a threat message"

When asked whether any threatening messages had reached the Tehran administration through mediators, Baghaei replied, "Don't talk to us about threats. I don't think anyone would dare to bring us a threat message."

Evaluating the role of different countries in the negotiations, Baghaei said, "Our official mediator is Pakistan. Besides this, there are different parties trying to help, and we thank them as well. Qatar is one of them."