Iran Not Ready for Direct US Talks, Wants Framework Deal First

Iran has indicated it is not ready to move to direct, face-to-face talks with the United States, saying Washington has not stepped away from what Tehran describes as "maximalist" demands. Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh, speaking at a diplomacy forum in Turkiye, said discussions have not reached a stage where an in-person meeting can take place, and that Iran wants a "framework agreement" to be finalized first. The Iranian official rejected suggestions that Iran could hand over its enriched uranium to the United States, calling such a transfer a "non-starter." US President Donald Trump had said Washington would retrieve nuclear material believed to be buried at Iranian sites, referring to an estimated 970 pounds of enriched uranium. The Strait of Hormuz remains a major point of contention between the two countries. Iran briefly closed the strategic waterway again on Saturday following renewed attacks, though it was later reopened following a truce in Lebanon. Khatibzadeh said a "new protocol" could be introduced to ensure civilian shipping continues safely, adding that the strait would "remain open and safe for all civilian passage." Trump has said a US blockade of the strait will continue and warned that attacks could resume if no agreement is reached with Iran. Meanwhile, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf claimed in a separate interview that Iran had won the recent conflict with the United States, stating that Trump was forced to ask for a ceasefire because "the enemy's goals have not been achieved." Khatibzadeh called on Washington to address Iranian concerns about "illegal unilateral sanctions" as part of any progress in talks, describing US economic measures as "economic terrorism which has targeted Iranian people to suffocate them." He said there have been multiple exchanges of messages between the two sides, but the gap remains significant. Regarding regional tensions, Iran reiterated its position that any ceasefire should extend to Lebanon, where Israel has been engaged with Hezbollah. Ghalibaf emphasized that Hezbollah "fought for the Islamic Republic" and therefore must be included in any ceasefire agreement. The talks continue through indirect channels, with both sides maintaining their positions on key issues while communication remains open.