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Iran and the United States are communicating through intermediaries and have no plans for direct talks, according to Iran's Ambassador to Belarus, Alireza Sanei, in an interview with TASS. The envoy also detailed Tehran's demands in a 14-point proposal delivered to Washington, while expressing deep mistrust of the US and Israel following a military operation in late February.
Coverage Comparison
The reporting, all from TASS's English-language service, centers on a series of interviews with Ambassador Sanei. The coverage highlights different aspects of his statements: one report focuses on Iran's economic resilience to a US naval blockade, another on Tehran's distrust of Washington and Israel, and a third on the format of negotiations through intermediaries. A fourth report details the content of Iran's 14-point proposal. While the tone varies across these articles, they all rely primarily on direct quotes from the ambassador.
Key Claims
Negotiations Through Intermediaries
Sanei said that negotiations between Iran and the US are currently held in the format of sending messages through intermediaries, with no personal consultations on the agenda. "There is no such plan as compared to the first round, when the parties took seat at the negotiating table opposite each other," he said, adding that "negotiations as such are not on the agenda." He noted that Pakistan "can still be playing a mediating role in the conflict settlement as it does it now."
The remarks come after both sides held several rounds of talks in Islamabad on April 11, but failed to reach a long-term settlement, according to reports from both Tehran and Washington. On April 21, US President Donald Trump announced his intention to extend the ceasefire with Iran. However, Iranian state television reported that Tehran does not recognize Washington's unilateral extension and will act as it deems necessary in its own interests.
Iran's 14-Point Proposal
In early May, Tehran sent Washington a 14-point proposal via Islamabad, outlining a roadmap for a potential agreement, according to TASS. The document was a response to a previous US initiative containing nine points. Sanei said the proposal included demands for "peace and security across the entire region, including Lebanon," and the unfreezing of Iranian assets "frozen for many years in banks of various countries."
He also called on the US to "put an end to this maritime piracy and their naval blockade," accusing President Trump of openly admitting that the US seizes tankers and takes oil. Sanei contrasted this with Iran's actions, saying, "Just imagine if Iran said something like that. An emergency UN Security Council meeting would be convened the same evening." He also criticized the international community for not protesting Trump's threats to "destroy Iranian civilization" and use nuclear weapons.
Additionally, Tehran insists that transit rules in the Strait of Hormuz must not return to their pre-war state, arguing that vessels should comply with Iranian security requirements and pay necessary fees.
Economic Resilience and Distrust
Sanei argued that the US naval blockade is unlikely to undermine Iran's economy because the country shares borders with 15 nations, including Russia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey, Iraq, Azerbaijan, and Armenia. "A blockade in the south certainly will not affect our imports and exports," he said, while acknowledging that "a war is still a war, and it has consequences."
He stressed that Iran had been under sanctions for 47 years, which had made the economy and the people stronger. "We need to see if the American people, the European people and people in other countries are prepared for these economic fluctuations and pressure," he said. "Resilience is the problem."
The ambassador also expressed deep distrust of the US and Israel, saying they "betrayed diplomacy and negotiations" during February talks, in which Iran put forward "very good proposals regarding the nuclear program." He added, "They betrayed us, so we don't trust Israel and the Americans in any way."
According to TASS, the US and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on February 28. In response, Tehran closed the Strait of Hormuz to ships associated with the US, Israel, and countries that backed the aggression. On April 7, Washington announced a "double-sided" two-week ceasefire with Iran.