Iran has ruled out discussing its nuclear program in the first stage of talks aimed at ending the conflict with the United States.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said on Saturday, May 23, that the nuclear issue will not be part of the initial framework the two sides are drafting.
Instead, he said Iran wants to focus first on stopping the fighting across the region, including in Lebanon.
“At this stage, we will not discuss the details of the nuclear issue,” Baqaei told state television. “We have decided to prioritize an urgent issue for all of us: ending the war on all fronts, including Lebanon.”
He added that the nuclear file would be handled in separate talks later.
What Marco Rubio Said Earlier On
The statement comes just hours after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested that progress was being made in the negotiations.
Rubio had said the Trump administration prefers a diplomatic solution but made it clear that Iran must give up its enriched uranium and accept strict limits on enrichment.
He also demanded the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz without any Iranian interference.
“Iran can never have nuclear weapons. The strait must remain open without tolls. They need to hand over their enriched uranium.
“We need to address the enrichment issue. The president prefers to handle this through diplomatic means. That’s what we’re working on now,” Rubio said earlier today.
Rubio also noted that there may be news, or rather updates, from the ongoing talks between Tehran and the U.S.
The Two Positions Now Appear Far Apart
Tehran’s decision to separate the nuclear question from an immediate ceasefire deal marks a change in approach.
For months, Washington has pushed for a broad agreement that tackles both the fighting and Tehran’s nuclear ambitions at the same time.
Iranian officials are now pushing back, saying the priority must be stopping the bloodshed first.
The conflict escalated earlier this year after Israeli strikes on Iranian targets and U.S. military action in the Gulf.
Tehran responded by closing the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil shipments. That move sent energy prices soaring and triggered a naval standoff with American forces.
U.S. officials have not yet responded directly to Iran’s latest comments.
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President Trump has repeatedly said he does not want a new war in the Middle East, but has drawn a firm red line against Iran developing nuclear weapons.
During his campaign, he criticized past administrations for failing to contain Tehran’s ambitions.
The Iranian move creates a tricky situation for the White House, as accepting a ceasefire without nuclear guarantees could be seen as a concession.
Rejecting it might prolong the fighting and keep oil prices high heading into the U.S. midterm cycle.
Lebanon remains a major sticking point, with Iranian-backed Hezbollah having been exchanging fire with Israel for months. Any broader ceasefire would likely need to include a halt to those clashes as well.
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Iran’s economy has been battered by sanctions and the effects of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. blockade.
Ending the war could ease some of that pressure while keeping its nuclear infrastructure intact for future bargaining.
Still, the gap between the two sides appears wide. Rubio has insisted that Tehran must ship out its stockpile of enriched uranium and accept severe restrictions on future enrichment.
Iranian leaders have long maintained their nuclear program is for peaceful purposes and reject any deal that dismantles it.
