TEHRAN, JUN 21: Iran warned on Sunday that it would not enter into talks on a broader agreement with the United States unless the war in Lebanon comes to an end.
“Without the implementation of these provisions, especially paragraph 1 (termination of the war on all fronts, including Lebanon), entry into the negotiation phase for the final agreement is not possible,” foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei wrote on X, referring to a provision in the initial deal between Tehran and Washington.
Iran said that the ongoing conflict in Lebanon between Israel and militant group Hezbollah will top the agenda in talks with the United States in Switzerland, as well as issues such as frozen Iranian funds and the sale of the country’s oil.
“The Zionist regime continues to violate its commitment in Lebanon, this issue will be the main topic of discussion in today’s talks,” foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said in a video shared by IRNA state news agency.
Tehran said on Thursday it had signed a deal with Washington to end months of hostilities that began on February 28 following US-Israeli attacks on Iran.
Under the agreement, the Israel-Hezbollah conflict in Lebanon was also due to stop.
Iran’s military announced on Saturday that it has closed the Strait of Hormuz again over ongoing Israeli attacks in Lebanon.
But there were no reports of fresh strikes in Lebanon after Saturday evening and Baqaei said since Saturday “a fragile cessation (in Lebanon) has been established.”
He added that Tehran would also pursue the issue of its frozen and inaccessible funds during the talks.
“The issue of making available Iran’s frozen or restricted assets, as well as the discussion related to issuing the necessary licenses for the sale of Iranian oil, will also be on the agenda,” he said from Switzerland.
Iran has not officially disclosed the value of its frozen assets, though media reports have estimated them at more than $100 billion, largely frozen since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that toppled the US-backed shah.
According to Baqaei, the Iranian delegation will meet the US delegation in a “quadrilateral meeting” that will also include mediators Pakistan and Qatar.
