Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei announced that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s trip to New York to attend the United Nations Security Council meeting will not take place due to problems with the issuance of a visa. He also stated that under the current circumstances, no one can claim that Tehran and Washington are close to reaching a final agreement.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Baghaei said that the repeated changes in the positions of American officials have made any form of negotiations difficult. According to him, the current focus of discussions is on ending the war and reducing tensions, and no detailed talks have yet taken place regarding the nuclear file.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson emphasized that halting conflicts on all fronts, including Lebanon, would be part of any possible understanding. He added that the Islamic Republic believes stability and de-escalation in the region must be pursued simultaneously.
Baghaei also said that the United States in West Asia only cares about Israel’s interests and security and pays no attention to peace, stability, and economic prosperity in other regional countries. He described linking the issue of normalization of relations between regional countries and Israel with Iran peace negotiations as an attempt to divert public attention from the main issues.
He described Israel as the main source of insecurity in the region and said projects such as normalization of relations cannot change the current situation. Baghaei stressed that, from the Islamic Republic’s perspective, regional security should be based on cooperation among regional countries.
Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that the Islamic Republic is not seeking to impose tolls on passing ships. According to him, providing navigation services and ensuring maritime security may involve service fees, but this does not mean charging tolls for passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
Baghaei added that Iran, in cooperation with Pakistan, is examining and proposing solutions to ensure the security of ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. He also described the current situation in the region as a result of the actions of Israel and the United States, saying that before tensions escalated, maritime traffic in this route had been proceeding without problems.
In another part of his remarks, he stated that part of the country’s financial resources is being spent on the development of missiles and drones. Baghaei said the Islamic Republic considers these measures necessary to strengthen its defensive capabilities.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that a possible agreement with Iran is still under review. Before traveling to Agra, India, he said that proposals are on the table regarding issues such as keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and starting serious, time-bound talks related to Iran’s nuclear program.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
