Iranian state television reported that, contrary to some foreign media reports, the nuclear issue was not discussed during the first 80 minutes of talks underway in Islamabad. According to the report, the discussions focused on implementing Article 13 of the Islamabad agreement, with priority given to the Lebanon issue.
Iranian state television reported Sunday evening that the nuclear issue was not discussed during the first 80 minutes of talks in Islamabad, directly contradicting foreign media accounts that suggested nuclear discussions were taking place. The report said the session focused on implementing Article 13 of the Islamabad agreement, with priority given to the Lebanon crisis. This aligns with the stated Iranian position in recent days: on Saturday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said the memorandum focuses on ending the war, not the nuclear issue. A separate Iranian bulletin earlier Sunday also stressed that a final deal hinges on ending the conflict in Lebanon.
The development follows a quadripartite meeting between the US, Iran, Pakistan, and Qatar that was paused for consultations after 80 minutes earlier Sunday, as The Zioneer reported at 18:00 Jerusalem. That session was part of a complex mediation track that began with a first round of US-Iran talks in Switzerland, also reported at 18:00 Jerusalem. The thread shows that the nuclear issue has been consistently sidelined: as early as Sat Jun 13, Baghaei stated that the MoU focuses on ending the war, not the nuclear issue (The Zioneer, 21:26 Jerusalem). By Sun 14:11 Jerusalem, Iran said talks were for monitoring MoU compliance and warned that a final deal requires ending the Lebanon war.
As The Zioneer reported on Fri Jun 5, Lebanese President Aoun told CNN that Iran is using Lebanon as a bargaining chip. The broader backdrop includes reports that overnight Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon delayed US-Iran talks (Fri Jun 19, 08:09 Jerusalem), and that Iran shelved planned military retaliation against Israel under cover of the deal (Mon Jun 15, 00:48 Jerusalem). Analysts quoted by The Zioneer on Mon Jun 15 cautioned that nuclear issues — including 60% enriched uranium stockpiles — remain unresolved.
No further details about the content of Article 13, the remaining schedule of talks, or the participants were disclosed in this update. The report's source is Iranian state TV, cited via an Israeli-linked channel. Whether the nuclear issue was discussed after the 80-minute mark or in any subsequent session remains unclear.
3 developments
- DevelopingReport: Iran nuclear talks may extend 60 days, including enrichment and inspections
- DevelopingIran's state TV says no nuclear talks at Switzerland meeting
- DevelopingIsraeli analysis: Iran nuclear talks postponed, enrichment unresolved
- ConfirmedIranian spokesman: MoU focuses on ending war, not nuclear issue
Source and signal
- Internal intake