Iran's Foreign Ministry: The Focus of Iran-US Negotiations is on Ending the War, Not the Nuclear Issue

On April 23, Xinhua News Agency reported from Tehran that a spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that the recent Iran-U.S. negotiations held in Islamabad, Pakistan, are fundamentally different from previous talks, with the focus on ending the war rather than the Iranian nuclear issue.

The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting quoted the spokesperson as saying that previous negotiations were conducted in a state of peace, focusing on the nuclear issue, while the current dialogue is taking place against the backdrop of a temporary ceasefire, with the nuclear issue no longer being the focus. Ending the war and safeguarding Iran's national interests have become the top priority.

The spokesperson mentioned that war reparations, resolving disputes in the Strait of Hormuz, comprehensive lifting of sanctions, and ensuring that the U.S. and Israel do not invade again in the future are also fundamental topics of the current Iran-U.S. negotiations. He reiterated that any agreement reached between Iran and the U.S. must be based on safeguarding national interests, eliminating threats, and preventing future invasions.

In response to media questions, the spokesperson said that Iran's Islamic Consultative Assembly Speaker Ghalibaf, who participated in the last round of negotiations, has combat experience from the Iran-Iraq War and has held key positions in various fields, earning the trust of different political factions in Iran. The Iranian side believes that his partnership with Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian can play an effective role in diplomacy and national macro-management. This arrangement is "wise and appropriate."

Earlier, according to Iranian media reports, after U.S. officials and media observed that the Iranian negotiating team showed a resolute resistance to various unreasonable demands from the U.S., they attempted to create the illusion of "internal divisions" between the Iranian government, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and Ghalibaf.

On the evening of the 23rd local time, Ghalibaf, Iranian President Raisi, and leaders from Iran's legislative, executive, and judicial branches, as well as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, all issued statements emphasizing that there is no so-called division between "hardliners" and "moderates" within Iran, stating, "We are all Iranians, we are all revolutionaries."