Iran continues to exchange messages with the United States, but the conditions necessary for formal negotiations are currently absent, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said on Sunday.
In an interview with Austria’s ORF television, Baqaei said Iran’s immediate priority was safeguarding its sovereignty rather than returning to negotiations.
“We are exchanging messages, but our priority now is defending Iran’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and people,” he said.
Baqaei accused Washington of repeatedly undermining diplomatic efforts, arguing that recent US military actions had destroyed the conditions needed for negotiations and breached previous understandings with Tehran.
He described the recent US strikes as a continuation of what he called an “illegal war” against Iran and said they demonstrated Washington’s failure to honour its commitments.
Commenting on the Strait of Hormuz, Baqaei said Iran remained committed to ensuring the security of international shipping but would not allow the strategic waterway to be used in a manner that threatened the country’s national security.
He also accused the United States and Israel of escalating regional tensions through their military actions.
Referring to the 2015 nuclear agreement, Baqaei said European countries had failed to fulfil their obligations after the United States withdrew from the accord, adding that they “owe Iran a great debt” for not honouring their commitments.