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FM spox: US offer rejected as Washington sought ‘total surrender’
Foreign Ministry’s spokesman said Tehran dismissed a peace proposal submitted by the United States because Washington is seeking the Islamic Republic’s “total surrender” rather than genuine negotiations.
In an interview with India Today Global, Esmaeil Baqaei said the US’s approach in the negotiations is the imposition of its will instead of political dealings.
Baqaei said since the beginning of Iran-US negotiations brokered by Pakistan, Iran has emphasized an end to the US-Israeli aggression against the country, reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to what he called the US “piracy” before any discussions on Iran’s nuclear program can resume.
His remarks came as regional efforts are underway to end the ongoing tensions in the region, which have been caused by a weeks-long US-Israeli aggression against Iran that began on February 28.
On April 11-12, Iran and the US held the first round of negotiations brokered by Pakistan, days after Islamabad mediated a ceasefire to halt the aggression on Iran. However, it failed to produce an agreement due to the US excessive demands.
Efforts to bring back the sides to the negotiating table also failed after Iran refused to take part in the second round due to the US violation of the ceasefire.
However, the two countries have been exchanging proposals through mediator Pakistan to find a way out of the crisis which has also disrupted global economy.
Iran submitted its response to the American side’s proposed text earlier on Sunday.
But the US President rejected Tehran’s response as “totally unacceptable”.
During his interview, Baqaei also underlined that responsibility for the closure of the Strait of Hormuz lies with the US, and that a naval blockade imposed by the US on Iran’s ports constitutes an act of war under international law.
He said the strategic waterway was open before February 28, stressing that Iran was forced to close it after the US and Israel used territory belonging to Persian Gulf Arab states to launch attacks on Iran.