Iran to Respond to U.S. Proposal Based on Its Red Lines, Says Esmail Baqaei
TEHRAN – Iran will respond to the latest U.S. proposal in accordance with its national red lines, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baqaei said Monday during a press briefing, emphasizing that no proposal will be accepted if it includes “radical and maximal demands” that ignore Iran’s legitimate rights. Speaking ahead of the anniversary of Imam Khomeini’s passing, Baqaei made it clear that receiving a proposal does not mean acceptance and stressed Iran’s insistence on lifting unlawful sanctions as a prerequisite for any final agreement.
Baqaei highlighted that document exchanges between Tehran and Washington are part of a normal negotiation process, and reiterated Iran’s position that any acceptable deal must guarantee the lifting of sanctions with verifiable mechanisms to avoid repeating past failures.
Esmail Baqaei also criticized the U.S. for lacking clarity and transparency in its proposals and warned that any proposal not aligned with Iran’s fundamental demands would be rejected. “Iran will not compromise its sovereignty or dignity,” he said, underscoring that the country’s nuclear activities remain peaceful and fall under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
On the international front, Baqaei strongly criticized the latest report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (I.A.E.A.), saying it was biased and influenced by political pressure from Western powers, particularly the U.S. and Europe. He denounced European countries for attempting to activate the snapback mechanism and warned that Iran has prepared responses for such scenarios.
Dismissing any notion of choosing between a bad deal and military confrontation, Baqaei asserted that Iran rejects false dilemmas and will continue to pursue negotiations professionally, while safeguarding its national interests through strategic and sovereign actions.
