Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei cast doubt on the planned Friday meeting with the US in Switzerland, saying the possibility of holding it is being reconsidered. He announced sanctions on Iranian oil have begun lifting today and that Iran demands full access to frozen assets abroad, warning that continued Israeli strikes in Lebanon would constitute a US breach of commitments.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei said Thursday morning that the planned US-Iran meeting in Switzerland on Friday is not confirmed and that Tehran is reconsidering whether to hold it. The statement marks a shift from earlier Iranian signals that the meeting would proceed as part of the emerging Islamabad framework between the two countries.
Baqaei reiterated that sanctions on Iranian oil exports began lifting today and will continue during negotiations. He demanded unrestricted access to insurance and shipping services and full return of Iran's frozen overseas assets. He warned that any continuation of Israeli strikes in Lebanon will be considered a violation of US commitments under the understandings with Iran, placing responsibility on Washington to ensure Israeli compliance.
As The Zioneer reported earlier Thursday, Baqaei had already linked the deal's survival to a halt in Israeli operations in Lebanon and rejected the removal of enriched uranium from Iran. Friday's meeting was originally intended to advance the diplomatic track that began with the signing of the Islamabad MoU.
The spokesman also claimed that Iran has 'defeated two nuclear powers supported by other countries,' asserting that Iran is a genuine superpower. The status of the Friday talks remains unconfirmed, and the Islamic Republic's position appears to be in flux.
2 developments
- StrongTrump tells NYT: Iran nuclear talks will begin Friday in Switzerland; 15-20 year enrichment suspension on table
- DevelopingIran's Fars: final decision on US deal framework still under review
- DevelopingSwiss ministry: delegations from Iran, US, Qatar, Pakistan to meet Friday at Bürgenstock for preliminary talks on deal implementation
- StrongIran threatens breach of MoU, rejects removal of enriched uranium from the country
Source and signal
- Internal intake