Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi says Tehran has rejected proposals presented by the United States during indirect negotiations conducted through mediators, claiming the plan contained what he described as “unreasonable demands.”
In a statement, Gharibabadi said the indirect talks between Iran and the United States began in Islamabad, where the US delegation presented a proposal that was rejected outright by the Iranian side.
He claimed that Washington had warned the proposal’s rejection would be considered a failure of the negotiations and that the US delegation would leave the talks. According to Gharibabadi, that is what ultimately happened, with the American delegation ending the discussions and departing.
The Iranian deputy foreign minister said Tehran neither insisted on continuing the negotiations nor requested that the dialogue resume, describing this as an example of Iran’s approach to conducting diplomacy with dignity.
Commenting on the Strait of Hormuz, Gharibabadi said further discussions were later held in Oman after Iran again closed the strategic waterway. He claimed the Omani delegation proposed keeping the southern shipping route open until both sides reached an agreement, but Iran rejected that proposal as well.
He said Iran had made it clear that its position had remained unchanged since the beginning of the conflict and that it would not accept proposals that contradict its principles. According to him, Iran’s policy of keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed remains in place.
The United States and Oman have not immediately responded publicly to the claims made by Iran’s deputy foreign minister.
