Iran Rejects U.S. Efforts to Direct Negotiations Toward the Nuclear File and Offers 'Advice' to Neighboring Countries

- The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Baqaei, said on Sunday that Iran has provided "clear responses to the American proposals through the Qatari mediator in Doha," rejecting what Tehran described as Washington's attempt to "steer the talks towards the nuclear file." Baqaei added that "restoring security in the Strait of Hormuz requires concrete steps from the U.S., including a complete cessation of interference in Iranian commercial shipping, lifting all unilateral sanctions and those recently imposed, and ending military intervention."

In response to a question during his press conference regarding some claims that Iran proposed to the United States the issue of inspections by International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors of nuclear facilities in exchange for easing economic sanctions, Baqaei said: "No, such a matter was never raised at all." Ismail Baqaei clarified: "We did not even enter into discussions about the nuclear file in exchange for sanctions.

Our duty was to communicate our conditions, and we conveyed these conditions to the mediators within the framework known as the (seven-day plan), and they, in turn, carried out their tasks in conveying them to the American side). The Iranian spokesperson added: "Our advice to all neighboring countries is to respect the right of good neighborliness.

We are committed to the principle of good neighborliness, and we expect neighboring countries to adhere to this principle as well, and not to allow their capabilities and territories to be exploited by parties that have proven practically that they do not care about the security of the countries in the region," as reported by the official Iranian news agency "IRNA." Ismail Baqaei added: "We have quickly and clearly expressed our dissatisfaction to the countries in the region, especially those countries that have placed their territories and capabilities at the disposal of America and the Zionist entity during military aggression.

This demand we seize every opportunity to emphasize, and we remind them of their international responsibilities resulting from participation in the aggressive actions of America and the Zionist entity. We have had good meetings and discussions with almost all countries on the southern shore of the Gulf on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

Iran reiterated on Sunday that it will not concede on its conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, amid a lack of any indications of a near resolution to the diplomatic dispute between the United States and Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump rejected Iran's latest proposal—which stipulates the opening of this vital waterway in exchange for the U.S. meeting some conditions, including easing sanctions and releasing frozen Iranian assets—yet mediators continue their efforts to keep negotiations ongoing.

Chief government negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf stated: "The position of the Islamic Republic of Iran is clear and completely firm: the Strait of Hormuz will not be reopened unless our seven conditions based on the Islamabad memorandum are met." Qalibaf's remarks came after another tanker was targeted in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), in an incident that marks at least the third such occurrence in recent days.

The UKMTO reported that the captain of the tanker (whose name has not been disclosed) stated that it was targeted by an unidentified projectile, causing damage to the engine room. An American official told Ofogh News on Monday that Trump is willing to ease sanctions on Iran and release frozen funds as part of a final agreement, but on the condition that Tehran makes "substantial progress" regarding its nuclear file.

Qalibaf, in remarks reported by the semi-official Fars News Agency, stated that the United States must realize that "the era of procrastination and imposing unilateral demands is over... We are actively engaged in the military field and will confront the enemy with new surprises, while simultaneously using diplomacy to solidify our superiority on the battlefield."