Iran Says No Immediate Deal with US Amid Ongoing Talks Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Esmail Baqai, stated that while some progress has been made in negotiations with the United States, a formal agreement is not expected soon. The remarks came after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio hinted at the possibility of a deal, though he cautioned against overinterpreting the situation. Baqai emphasized that “a large portion of the issues under discussion” had been resolved, but added that “no-one can make such a claim” about an imminent agreement. The talks, which have been ongoing since the start of the conflict in February, involve a memorandum of understanding reportedly including a 60-day ceasefire extension, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and plans for further nuclear program negotiations. The proposed agreement, however, does not constitute a final resolution. Key issues such as the scope of sanctions relief, the release of frozen Iranian funds, and Iran’s nuclear ambitions remain unresolved. U.S. intelligence sources suggest that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who was injured in an Israeli strike that killed his father and predecessor, is in an undisclosed location, complicating communication with his envoys and slowing the pace of negotiations. This has led to delays in finalizing terms, with some U.S. officials expressing frustration over the lack of progress. The situation has also sparked internal divisions within President Donald Trump’s Republican Party. Senator Ted Cruz called the potential deal “a disastrous mistake,” while Roger Wicker, chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, warned that a 60-day ceasefire would render “everything accomplished by Operation Epic Fury for naught.#iran #donald_trump #marco_rubio #mojtaba_khamenei #esmail_baqai
