Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, said a final agreement with the U.S. is not imminent despite progress on many topics.
This statement clarifies Tehran's current stance on diplomatic negotiations during a period of high regional tension. It signals that while technical conclusions may have been reached on specific issues, a comprehensive peace deal remains elusive.
Baghaei said the statement on May 25, 2024 [1]. He said that although a final deal is not immediate, the two nations have reached conclusions on several topics [1]. The spokesperson's remarks were shared via X and reported by international media outlets in Tehran [2, 3].
Beyond the diplomatic negotiations, Baghaei addressed the ideological and historical weight of the conflict. He said that the U.S.-Israel war on Iran will determine the meaning of "good" and "evil" for the current and future eras [2].
Baghaei also emphasized the memory of those who died in previous conflicts. He said, "We will never forget our martyrs in war" [4].
Reports on the current state of hostilities remain mixed. Some reports indicate a delicate ceasefire remains in place after President Donald Trump extended it by two weeks, though Baghaei's specific statement did not mention a ceasefire extension [3].
“A final agreement with the United States is not imminent, but we have reached conclusions on many topics.”
The contrast between Baghaei's acknowledgement of 'conclusions' on various topics and the lack of a final agreement suggests a fragmented negotiation process. By pairing diplomatic updates with rhetoric regarding 'martyrs' and 'evil,' Iran is balancing the possibility of a pragmatic deal with the need to maintain domestic ideological legitimacy and revolutionary resolve.
