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🇫🇷 France /Conflict & Security

Iran Nuclear Talks: Progress Made, but Final Deal 'Still Far Off,' Says Parliament Speaker

From Le Figaro · (4d ago) French Mixed tone

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that peace negotiations with the U.S. have progressed but a final agreement remains distant.
  • Ghalibaf criticized the U.S. approach, urging them to abandon "imposition" and "unilateralism" to gain Iran's trust.
  • He noted that Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire at the U.S.'s request, despite feeling militarily victorious.

In a significant interview, Iran's powerful Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has offered a candid assessment of the ongoing peace negotiations with the United States. While acknowledging progress, Ghalibaf firmly stated that a final agreement is "still far off," indicating that substantial hurdles remain. His remarks, made during a television appearance, reflect Iran's cautious stance and its deep-seated mistrust of American intentions, a sentiment that has persisted since the 1979 revolution.

We are still far from having concluded the debate.

— Mohammad Bagher GhalibafAssessing the progress of the peace negotiations with the U.S.

Ghalibaf directly addressed the U.S. negotiating strategy, emphasizing that Washington "must renounce... the spirit of imposition" and "unilateralism" if it hopes to build trust with the Iranian people. This call for a fundamental shift in American diplomacy underscores Iran's demand for equal footing and respect in international dialogue. The Speaker pointed to the recent high-level talks in Islamabad, where he asserted that Iran has "absolutely no confidence in the United States."

We have made progress in the negotiations, but many differences remain and some fundamental points are still pending.

— Mohammad Bagher GhalibafDetailing the status of the peace talks.

Furthermore, Ghalibaf revealed that Iran's agreement to a two-week ceasefire, which began on April 8, was a concession made at the behest of the United States. He highlighted that Iran felt militarily strong, having achieved victory on the ground and maintained control of the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting that the ceasefire was primarily a gesture of goodwill towards the U.S. request rather than a necessity born from weakness. From Le Figaro's perspective, these statements signal Iran's strategic positioning in the negotiations, balancing a willingness to engage with a firm assertion of its national interests and a critical view of U.S. foreign policy.

The United States must renounce... the spirit of imposition in their approach to dialogue.

— Mohammad Bagher GhalibafCriticizing the U.S. negotiating tactics.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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