Iran’s chief negotiator – parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf – said recent Talks with the United States had made progress, but differences on nuclear matters and the Strait of Hormuz still persistedwhile President Donald TTrump mentioned “very good talks” with Tehrandespite warning against “blackmail” in relation to this key shipping channel.
Neither side offered details on the status of negotiations on Saturday, days before the fragile ceasefire in the US-Israel war against Iran expires.
“We have made progress, but there is still a lot of distance between us”Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, told state media, referring to last weekend’s talks. “There are some issues that we insist on… They also have red lines. But these issues could be only one or two.”
Trump said the United States was keeping “very positive conversations”but did not give more details.
Tehran he turned back Saturday to reassert their control over the strait, closing the strategic point again for energy supply. Iran said it was responding to the continued US blockade of Iranian ports, calling it a violation of the ceasefire.
For his part, the supreme leader, theyatolá Mojtaba Khameneireappeared this Saturday and declared that theIranian army was prepared to inflict “new and bitter defeats” on its enemies. Trump qualified the measure of “blackmail”although he praised the conversations.