Iran foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei
Just two days before the ceasefire deadline ends, Iran hardened its stance on talks with the United States, saying that keeping the door open for dialogue “does not mean to negotiate at any cost.”The announcement, reported by state media Tasnim news agency, comes as US President Donald Trump on Sunday said a US delegation will travel to Islamabad on Monday for fresh talks with Iran. “We’re offering a very fair and reasonable deal, and I hope they take it because, if they don’t, the United States is going to knock out every single power plant, and every single bridge, in Iran. No more Mr. nice guy!” he added.Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said on Monday that “Tehran currently has no plans for a subsequent round of negotiations.” Despite this, Iran has not ruled out diplomacy altogether. Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security Committee, said in an interview with Al Jazeera, as cited by ANI, that engagement with Washington will depend strictly on national priorities. He stated that “Iran acts based on national interests” and remains ready to do whatever is necessary to “secure the country’s interests and security”. Azizi emphasised that continuing dialogue does not come without limits, saying this “does not mean to negotiate at any cost”. He stressed that Iran has defined red lines that “must be observed,” and that sending a delegation to Islamabad would depend on receiving “constructive feedback” and a “positive signal” from the United States.Describing Tehran’s approach, Azizi said diplomacy is closely linked to its military posture. “We see the current negotiations as a continuation of the battlefield, and we see nothing other than the battlefield in this,” he said. He added that talks would only be meaningful “if it yields achievements that sustain those of the battlefield”, warning that this would not be the case “if the Americans intend to turn this into a field of excessive demands, based on their bullying approach.”He also pointed to key conditions for any progress, noting that the “issue of Lebanon has been very important for us” and that the “release of frozen assets” remains a priority. Azizi warned that any move “contrary to the interests of the resistance front” would signal rejection of Iran’s conditions and would have consequences.US–Iran ceasefire talks held in Islamabad on April 11 ended without any agreement. The discussions, mediated by Pakistan, lasted around 21 hours but failed to produce a breakthrough. The deadlock centred on disagreements over the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear programme.Iranian state outlets said the US naval blockade of Iranian ports remains a central sticking point, with Tehran arguing it amounts to collective punishment.
