TEHRAN: Iran said on Monday that Tehran and Washington had reached understandings on many issues during negotiations over a possible agreement to end the ongoing war, but cautioned that a final deal was not close.
Speaking during a weekly press briefing, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said progress had been made on a large portion of the matters under discussion between the two sides.
“It is correct to say that we have reached a conclusion on a large portion of the issues under discussion,” Baqaei stated.
However, he warned against expectations of an immediate breakthrough, saying no one could claim that the signing of an agreement was imminent. He also accused Washington of sending mixed signals and frequently changing its positions during the talks.
The remarks came after Iran announced it was finalising a 14-point framework aimed at ending the conflict. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a deal with Iran could materialise on Monday, while President Donald Trump reportedly instructed American negotiators not to “rush” the process.
During the briefing, Baqaei stressed that the framework under preparation was primarily focused on ending the war across the wider region, including Lebanon.
He reiterated that Iran’s nuclear programme — one of the main sticking points for Washington — was not included in the current framework discussions and would only be addressed after both sides reached agreement on the broader proposal.
According to Baqaei, the draft framework also includes provisions related to ending the US naval blockade on Iranian ports, which has been in place since April 13, as well as arrangements concerning the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
“US actions under the title of a naval blockade must be stopped, and at the same time, the Islamic Republic of Iran will take the necessary measures for safe transit in the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s most vital energy and trade routes — has remained under Iranian control since the outbreak of the conflict.
Iran has only allowed limited numbers of vessels to pass through the strait and has required ships to obtain permission from Iranian armed forces before transit.
Baqaei denied that Iran was imposing tolls on vessels using the waterway, saying the fees being collected were for navigational and environmental protection services.
“The services that are provided — navigational services in addition to the measures necessary to protect the environment of the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman — require the collection of certain fees,” he explained.
He added that Iran was “not seeking to collect tolls” from ships passing through the strait.