Iran says its reviewing ‘new proposals’ from US, but no date set for new round of talks

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said no date for a new round of talks has been set yet. Iran’s top national security body said Saturday that the country was reviewing “new proposals” received from the United States, even as it warned that its negotiators would cut no compromises with Washington. “In recent days, with the presence of the commander of the Pakistani army in Tehran as an intermediary and mediator in the negotiations, new proposals have been put forward by the Americans, which the Islamic Republic of Iran is currently reviewing and has not yet responded to,” the Supreme National Security Council said in a statement.

It went on to say that Iran’s negotiating delegation “will not make even the slightest compromise, retreat or leniency, and will defend with all its strength the interests of the Iranian nation”. No date has been set for the next round of Iran–US peace talks brokered by Pakistan following the failure of an initial round, Iran’s deputy foreign minister said on Saturday. “Until we agree on the framework, we cannot set a date,” Saeed Khatibzadeh told journalists on the sidelines of an annual diplomatic forum in Turkey’s southern Antalya province.

“We hope that as soon as we can finalise that, then we can move on to the next step”. Khatibzadeh said both sides were currently focused on finalising a framework of understanding before proceeding with further negotiations. “We do not want to enter into any negotiation or meeting that is destined to fail and could serve as a pretext for another round of escalation,” he said.

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“I can assure you that Iran is very much committed to diplomacy”. Pakistan’s powerful military chief and prime minister concluded separate visits aimed at ending the Iran war, with Field Marshal Asim Munir leaving Tehran and premier Shehbaz Sharif headed home from Turkey. Munir met Iran’s top leadership and peace negotiators during a three-day visit to Tehran, a Pakistani military statement said.

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