TEHRAN: Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has reaffirmed that any negotiations with the United States will remain bound by Tehran’s “red lines”, stressing that Iran will continue to safeguard its national interests during talks.
Speaking in remarks published by Iran’s official IRNA news agency on Friday, Ghalibaf said Iran remained committed to the conditions and principles established by the country’s leadership.
“As we have shown in the past path of negotiations, we are steadfast in fulfilling the conditions and red lines set, and in achieving the interests of the Iranian nation,” he said.
Ghalibaf also warned against what he described as excessive demands from adversaries, saying Iran would respond forcefully to any hostile actions.
His comments come days after Tehran and Washington signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the regional conflict that began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran earlier this year.
The remarks followed a message from Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Syed Mojtaba Khamenei, who said he had approved the agreement despite holding a “different view” on the matter. Khamenei emphasized that direct engagement with the United States did not mean accepting Washington’s perspective.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi echoed the leadership’s position, saying the country’s diplomatic efforts would focus on protecting Iran’s rights and securing national interests.
President Masoud Pezeshkian, who signed the agreement on behalf of Iran, also pledged to uphold the country’s red lines while defending its “dignity, honour and authority”.
The memorandum signed by both Iran and the United States establishes a framework for 60 days of detailed negotiations focused on Iran’s nuclear programme and potential sanctions relief.
However, uncertainty remains over the next phase of discussions after a planned meeting in Switzerland was postponed.
The agreement includes provisions aimed at ending hostilities across the Middle East, easing restrictions on Iranian maritime trade and reaffirming Tehran’s commitment not to pursue nuclear weapons, a claim Iranian officials have consistently maintained.