Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Saturday, April 11, warned that any lasting diplomatic breakthrough with the United States depends on Washington showing seriousness, dropping what Tehran called excessive and unlawful demands, and recognizing Iran’s core rights and interests.
The message came hours after Iranian negotiators wrapped up an intense face-to-face talk with their American counterparts in the Pakistani capital.
Pakistan has hosted the negotiations as mediator following a fragile two-week ceasefire that paused six weeks of open conflict between the two sides, which started on February 28, and involved Israeli strikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran’s first statement after day-one talks.
In a detailed statement posted on X, Esmaeil Baqaei described diplomacy as “the prolongation of the holy jihad of the defenders of Iran’s land.”
He said Iran has not overlooked past American “betrayals and ill will” and will not forgive what he called the “heinous crimes” committed by the U.S. and Israel during the second and third imposed wars.
Baqaei said the Iranian delegation worked through a long Saturday in Islamabad, exchanging multiple messages and texts with the American side under Pakistani facilitation.
Media reports say that the talks dealt with main issues like who controls the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear program, war reparations, lifting sanctions, and a complete end to fighting in the region and against Iran.
Also Read: Trump Says US Will Start Clearing Hormuz for China and European Allies
Baqaei believes that the ongoing diplomatic talks will succeed only if there is “seriousness and good faith” from the U.S. He wants the U.S. to stop making what he described as “unreasonable demands or illegal requests” and to recognize Iran’s legitimate rights and interests.
He also thanked the government and people of Pakistan for hosting the meetings and for their “sincere efforts” in furthering the process.
The talks mark the first direct, high-level meetings between U.S. and Iranian officials in decades. The American delegation is led by Vice President JD Vance and includes special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
On the Iranian side, Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi have taken part, according to reports from both sides and Pakistani officials.
Pakistan’s role in these talks.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met separately with both delegations before the joint sessions. Pakistani sources described the goal as modest though vital: keeping the dialogue alive and preventing the ceasefire from collapsing amid ongoing tensions, particularly in Lebanon.
The Strait of Hormuz has become a central flashpoint, with Iran using its strategic position along the narrow waterway, through which about one-fifth of global oil passes, to exert leverage during the conflict.
Traffic in the strait has slowed sharply since the fighting began. Iranian officials have linked any full reopening to wider concessions, including sanctions relief and recognition of Tehran’s security interests.
U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly described the negotiations as “very deep” while indicating openness to discussing sanctions relief.
Also Read: “I Don’t Care” – Tense Moment as Trump Clashes With Reporter Over Hormuz Blockade
However, American positions on Iran’s uranium enrichment program and regional missile activities persist firm, creating clear gaps that Pakistani mediators are trying to bridge.
Iran has made a 10-point proposal that includes keeping control of the Strait of Hormuz, allowing its nuclear enrichment activities, completely lifting primary and secondary sanctions, paying for war damages, and ending all regional conflicts, including in Lebanon.
Washington has circulated its own 15-point framework that pushes for limits on Iran’s nuclear and missile programs in exchange for economic steps.
Frozen assets
A senior Iranian source told Reuters that the U.S. had signaled agreement in principle to release some frozen Iranian assets held in Qatar and other banks, describing it as a potential gesture of seriousness on the nuclear file.
However, the Trump administration refuted the claim.
Pakistani officials have described the current round as “make or break” for the ceasefire. Meanwhile, President Trump said on Saturday that he does not care whether these talks bear fruit. He maintains that the U.S. has already won.
