WANA (Jun 12) – The spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Esmaeil Baghaei, appeared on a state television program to clarify the latest developments in the diplomatic talks aimed at ending the military conflict between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States, officially mediated by Pakistan.

 

During the broadcast, the spokesperson provided details regarding Iran’s negotiating red lines, internal review processes, and the timeline of the potential agreement.

 

Media Narratives and Red Lines

Responding to questions about why Iran had not released its own comprehensive narrative to counter American media reports, Baghaei stated that while it was natural for each side in a diplomatic process to present its own perspective, Tehran had always sought to base its narrative on reality and maintain transparency with the public.

 

He emphasized that from the very beginning of the Pakistan-mediated process, Iran had consistently declared its fundamental positions and steadfast red lines.

 

Negotiation Friction and Changes in US Stances

Addressing a recent social media post by Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi regarding the draft text, the spokesperson noted that the ministry had been reiterating Iran’s proximity to a deal for the past several weeks.

 

He explained that a comprehensive understanding could have been reached weeks prior, but blamed the protracted timeline on the opposing side’s frequent shifts in position, contradictory statements, and the repeated introduction of new demands.

 

Baghaei dismissed allegations of bad faith against Iran, arguing that the historical record of the past decade proved Tehran’s sincerity, particularly its full compliance during the 2012–2015 JCPOA negotiations before the United States unilaterally withdrew from the accord.

 

The “Snakes and Ladders” of Diplomacy

When questioned if Iran’s recent diplomatic rhetoric was a reaction to American deadlines or military pressure, the spokesperson recalled his previous characterization of the talks as being both “very far and very near.”

 

He compared the current diplomatic process to a game of “snakes and ladders” due to what he described as the unpredictable and unconventional behavior of the United States. He explained that while both parties frequently reached the brink of an understanding, erratic moves by the American side repeatedly forced the talks back to earlier stages.

 

Internal Reviews and Final Decision-Making

Baghaei confirmed that an understanding had been reached on the vast majority of issues, validating Foreign Minister Araghchi’s assessment that a deal was close. He noted that Iran was currently in the final stages of its internal reviews and consolidations.

 

However, he cautioned that Tehran was still navigating Washington’s repeated attempts to frame Iran as unreliable. He asserted that Iran remained duty-bound to pursue diplomatic channels pragmatically to secure its national interests, while remaining fully cognizant of past American breaches of trust.

 

The spokesperson reiterated that Iran’s approach to negotiations had always been result-oriented. He noted that while relevant Iranian institutions were concurrently meeting to evaluate the situation, the final outcome remained contingent on establishing a consensus among domestic decision-making bodies. He stated that the process could either successfully conclude with the necessary official approvals or fail to reach the finish line.

 

Refusal to Confirm Leaked Drafts

When asked to verify the authenticity of recently leaked details concerning the 14-point draft agreement, Baghaei declined to provide official confirmation.

 

While praising the dynamism and professional efforts of both domestic and Western journalists to uncover information given the high stakes of the situation, he stated that the ministry could not formally validate any of the published materials. He promised that a formal announcement would be made once a definitive conclusion was reached.

 

He strongly rejected the notion that the ministry was withholding details due to a lack of trust in the public, explaining instead that strict confidentiality was a standard requirement for sensitive diplomatic processes.

 

Timeline and Next Steps

Finally, addressing widespread media speculation that a formal signing ceremony could take place by the end of the week or the upcoming Monday, the spokesperson stated that he could not give a definitive answer.

 

He concluded that the precise timing, location, and mechanism for finalizing the agreement remained entirely dependent on the progress of the talks and internal deliberations, promising that official updates would be provided the moment a final decision was made.