Iran says – Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei says negotiations with the United States are stalled because Washington keeps shifting positions, while Iran presses for unfreezing billions of dollars in blocked assets and insistence on Iran’s nuclear rights.
For Iran, the talks are not breaking down over a single dispute—they’re stuck on the way the United States delivers its demands.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran’s main problem in negotiating with the United States is what he described as Washington’s changing and contradictory positions. Speaking in Tehran on Sunday to CNN’s Senior International correspondent Frederik Pleitgen. Baghaei said the message exchange has continued through Pakistani mediators. but the process remains “cumbersome” because of shifting statements and “moving the goal posts.”.
Baghaei said the Americans need to recognize Iran’s rights. including what he called Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear enrichment under the international non-proliferation treaty. He also said Iran has another central sticking point: blocked assets. In his account, while the US talks about such assets, Iran does not believe Washington is prepared to make concessions.
“At the same time, when they are talking about our blocked assets they’re not going to give us any concession,” Baghaei said.
Iran is demanding that the United States agree to unfreeze billions of dollars in frozen assets held in foreign banks.
CNN reported Sunday that the US plans to allow Iranian assets to be used to support rebuilding in Gulf countries impacted by future Iranian attacks. citing a source familiar with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s thinking. The Treasury Department will also consider using Iranian assets to support repairs for past damage. according to the same kind of source. which confirmed earlier reporting from Reuters on Saturday.
Baghaei dismissed that approach as inadequate, saying the US must stop sanctions and release assets so Iran can access them. “The US must simply must stop their sanctions,” he told CNN. “As far as the sanctions and blocked assets are concerned. they simply need to let Iranian assets be released and be available for the Iranians.”.
The tension around negotiations is entangled with the wider fighting in the region. Baghaei accused the US of not respecting the ceasefire that came into effect in April. saying the US has been attacking Iran’s commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz and in the high seas. He described the situation as “very volatile and very dangerous. ” arguing that it stems from what he called the United States’ “reckless approach” toward the region and toward the ceasefire.
The US military said it remains ready to continue defending against what it described as Iranian aggression in the Gulf. It also said it shot down two more Iranian drones that posed threats to shipping on Saturday night.
Baghaei, for his part, warned that Iran’s armed forces “are steadfast or resolute to respond to any attacks with all force.”
Editor’s Note: CNN operates in Iran only with the permission of the government but maintains full editorial control of its reports.
Iran United States peace talks Esmaeil Baghaei blocked assets nuclear enrichment Pakistani mediators ceasefire April Strait of Hormuz Iranian drones Gulf shipping