Iran says it rejected US proposal over "excessive demands in talks"

Iran rejected a U.S. proposal during recent mediated talks due to what it described as excessive demands from Washington, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi said in remarks published on Monday, July 28.

Referring to negotiations between Iran and the United States, Gharibabadi said the talks began in Islamabad, where the U.S. side presented a plan that Tehran deemed unacceptable. “Negotiations began in Islamabad and the American side presented a plan that showed excessive demands. The Iranian delegation explicitly rejected this plan,” he said.

According to Gharibabadi, the U.S. delegation warned that rejection of the proposal would lead to the collapse of the talks. “The American side announced that if this plan is rejected, the negotiations will be considered failed and they will return leave them]. In the end, the same thing happened and the American delegation left the talks,” he said.

He added that Iran did not seek to prolong the negotiations. “There was no insistence or request from the Iranian delegation to continue the negotiations, and this approach was an example of the dignified diplomacy of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he said.

Gharibabadi also addressed developments related to the Strait of Hormuz, stating that Iran had again closed the waterway following what he described as U.S. actions. “After the Islamic Republic of Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz again following the crimes of the United States and more than two weeks ago, talks were held in Oman,” he said.

He said the opposing side had urged Iran to keep a southern shipping route open during ongoing discussions. “The other side insisted that the southern route, which had been opened for ship traffic, remain open until the negotiations between Iran and Oman reach a conclusion and then be closed, but the Iranian delegation did not accept that proposal,” he stated.

Gharibabadi said Tehran maintained a consistent position regardless of the negotiations’ outcome. “We clearly stated that whatever the outcome of the talks, the principled policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran has been clear since the beginning of the war and such proposals will not be accepted,” he said.

He added that Iran continued its policy of blocking the Strait of Hormuz and enforcing a naval blockade, describing it as “another example of the [dignified] diplomacy of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

By Tamilla Hasanova