Iran’s Top Diplomat Says A Lack Of Trust Is Impeding Talks To End War With The U.S.

NEW DELHI (AP) — Iranian Lack of trust is the biggest obstacle in negotiations with the United States to end the war, the Foreign Minister said on Friday, adding that Tehran would be open to diplomatic assistance, especially from China. help relieve tensions.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the conflicting messages “make us reluctant about the true intentions of the Americans.”

“We have doubts about the seriousness of these,” he told reporters. in New DelhiHe added that talks could move forward if Washington was ready for a “fair and balanced agreement”.

US President Donald Trump Earlier this week, Iran’s last official offer was rejected as follows: “rubbish.” While it is said that Iran has granted some nuclear privileges, Trump said that he wants to remove highly enriched uranium from the country and prevent it from developing nuclear weapons. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

Due to the fact that negotiations between Iran and the USA have come to a halt shaky truceTensions remain high and threaten the Middle East return to open warfare and prolonging the worldwide energy crisis caused by the conflict.

Iran still has an obstacle. Strait of HormuzIt is a vital waterway through which a fifth of the world’s oil passed before the war, and America is blockading Iranian ports.

Trump and the President of China Xi Jinpingwho finished talks on fridayIt was agreed that the strait should be reopened.

Araghchi said on Friday that Iran would welcome diplomatic support from other countries, especially China, citing Beijing’s previous role in facilitating the restoration of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

“The Chinese have good intentions. Therefore, anything that can be done by them to assist diplomacy will be welcomed by the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he said.

Beijing has shown little public interest in U.S. demands for greater involvement, although Trump told Fox News’ Sean Hannity that Xi offered assistance in their meeting.

Pakistan said on Thursday it was continuing diplomatic efforts to help ease regional tensions amid ongoing contacts with Iran over ceasefire proposals. But he refused to disclose details of the talks or say whether the United States had officially responded.

“The clock of diplomacy has not stopped. The peace process is working,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi told reporters in Islamabad.

While Trump demanded a major rollback of Iran’s nuclear activities, Iran demanded a major step back in its nuclear activities. right to enrich uranium.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who started the war with Trump on February 28, also demanded that all of Iran’s highly enriched uranium be removed from the country.

The issue of enriched uranium stockpiles is one of the most difficult issues in negotiations with the United States, Iran’s foreign minister said on Friday.

Russia had previously offered to buy the stocks if Iran was willing to give up. Araghchi said Russia’s offer was not being actively discussed at the moment, but could be reconsidered if negotiations progress.

“When we get to that stage, of course, we will have further consultations with Russia and see whether Russia’s offer will work. This is nothing for now,” he said.

The United Arab Emirates is accelerating the completion of a new pipeline that will allow the Gulf federation to export more oil without passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Abu Dhabi’s crown prince, Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, ordered state oil company ADNOC to speed up work on the pipeline during a board meeting in the Emirati capital, the Abu Dhabi Media Office said on Friday.

The state oil company currently operates a pipeline designed to carry 1.5 million barrels of oil per day from oil fields in the west of the country to the port of Fujairah on the Gulf of Oman.

The new pipeline is expected to double the company’s export capacity at this port. The facility will be operational next year, the media office said.

Schreck reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Associated Press reporter Munir Ahmed in Islamabad contributed.