Speaking at his weekly press conference on Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said Washington had conveyed “a set of revised points and considerations” via Pakistan last week after Iran submitted its proposal and the US raised its own concerns.
“After we presented the 14-point plan, the American side raised its considerations. In return, we also presented our considerations,” Baqaei said in response to a question raised by IRNA’s correspondent.
“Last week, despite the American side publicly announcing that this plan was rejected, we received through the Pakistani mediator a set of revised points and considerations reflecting their views,” he added.
The spokesperson said Iran had reviewed the latest proposals in recent days and had already delivered its response to Washington through the same channel.
“From the day after the American viewpoints were sent through Pakistan, we were faced with a series of proposals from the other side, which were reviewed over the past few days, and as announced yesterday, our viewpoints were in turn presented to the American side,” he said. “Therefore, the process is continuing through Pakistan.”
Iran’s enrichment right ‘non-negotiable’
Baqaei dismissed media speculations about the contents of the US proposal, particularly reports concerning Iran’s uranium enrichment activities and stockpiles of enriched material, saying such claims were “not close to reality.”
“Over the past two years, they have repeatedly raised more or less the same issues regarding enrichment and Iran’s enriched materials,” he said. “We have always said that these claims have no basis in reality.”
He stressed that Iran’s right to enrich uranium was non-negotiable and rooted in international law.
“The issue of rights is not something about which we are willing to negotiate or compromise,” he said. “Iran’s right to enrichment is recognized on the basis of the NPT [Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty]. There is no need for anyone or any other party to recognize it for Iran; this right already exists.”
Iran, Oman developing transit mechanisms for Strait of Hormuz
Commenting on the Strait of Hormuz, Baqaei described the strategic waterway as vital not only for Iran, Oman and regional states, but for the entire world.
He said Iran had consistently worked to ensure safe maritime transit through the strait and remained committed to maintaining secure passage.
Baqaei said measures adopted by Tehran following “the blatant law-breaking of the US and the Zionist regime” were consistent with international law and Iran’s right to defend its sovereignty and national security.
He added that consultations with Oman were continuing, including expert-level talks held in Muscat last week aimed at developing mechanisms to guarantee safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran pursuing legal action against US, Israel
Baqaei also said Iran was pursuing legal action in international bodies over crimes committed by the US and Israel against the Islamic Republic.
“We registered a lawsuit at the Iran-US Claims Tribunal on February 27, before the start of the recent war,” he said.
“The complaint is against the United States based on Clause 1 of the Algiers Accords because of America’s interference in Iran’s internal affairs, the initiation of the imposed war, and also the sanctions.”
He said the case had officially been filed and was currently going through legal procedures.
“All cases involving violations of humanitarian law and violations of the laws of war, including the Minab school case, which has become highly prominent and is discussed globally every day, and whose new dimensions are continuously being uncovered, have been registered with the relevant international bodies,” he added.
Iran has no hostility toward American people
Baqaei also addressed remarks by US President Donald Trump regarding the economic consequences of the US-Israeli “war of choice” against Iran for American citizens, saying Tehran distinguished between the US government and the American people.
“We have no dispute or hostility with the American people,” he said. “This is a war that has been imposed on the Iranian nation by the ruling establishment of the United States, and it has also imposed heavy costs on American citizens solely to secure the illegitimate ambitions of the Zionist regime in the region.”
Iran attaches importance to ties with China
On Iran-China relations, Baqaei said the appointment of Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf as special representative for China affairs reflected the importance Tehran attaches to ties with China.
“We have always had a special representative regarding China affairs. Previously, Mr. [Ali] Larijani held this responsibility, and now Dr. [Mohammad-Bagher] Ghalibaf has assumed it,” he said.
“This demonstrates the importance we attach to our relations with China,” Baqaei added. “We believe ties with China, especially in light of international developments, are important enough that decisions regarding them should be made from a macro-level perspective so that the country’s interests can be pursued more seriously.”
Baqaei rebukes Kuwait over attack on border patrol vessel
Elsewhere in his presser, Baqaei censured Kuwait’s attack on an Iranian border patrol vessel and demanded the immediate release of detained Iranian nationals.
He described the incident as “unacceptable” and “completely improper,” criticizing both the attack and the subsequent media coverage surrounding the case.
“The media atmosphere created around this issue is not understandable to us,” Baqaei said.
“To attack an Iranian border patrol vessel in some way and then raise accusations regarding it is in no way compatible with the principle of good neighborliness,” he added.
Baqaei said Tehran expected Kuwait to quickly facilitate the release of the Iranian citizens involved and avoid falling into “stereotypes” promoted in recent months by parties that, according to him, “attach no value to security and good relations among neighbors.”
‘False flag’ operation might be behind attack on South Korean vessel
The spokesperson also commented on reports concerning an attack on a South Korean vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, saying Tehran was still investigating the incident and questioned which regional actor might have been responsible.
“From the very beginning of the incident, we emphasized that, like any other event occurring in this region, we would investigate it,” he said.
He warned that some actors in the region were seeking to intensify insecurity and instability, while cautioning against dismissing the possibility of “false flag operations.”
Iran welcomes initiatives to build trust among regional states
Addressing reports that Saudi Arabia had proposed a regional non-aggression arrangement with Iran, the spokesperson said no specific plan had been formally presented.
He reiterated Tehran’s long-standing position that regional security should be ensured through mechanisms agreed upon by regional countries themselves, adding that any effort aimed at building trust among neighboring states would be welcomed by the Islamic Republic.
IRNA