Iran FM says no nuclear talks with US, accuses ceasefire violations

TEHRAN , Jun 1: Iran's foreign ministry said today that no discussions have taken place with the United States on the details of Tehran's nuclear programme, while accusing Washington of continuing to violate a ceasefire and warning of a response if necessary.

Speaking at a weekly press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said, "We know when it is necessary to act on nuclear matters. No negotiations have taken place on the details of the nuclear file. At this stage, our priority is ending the war," Baqaei said.

The spokesman also accused the United States of continuing to breach the ceasefire following recent military flare-ups.

"The United States is also violating the ceasefire, including this morning," he said, adding that Iran would "take whatever measures we deem necessary to defend Iran's national security".    
Similarly, Iran's chief negotiator Mohammad BagherGhalibaf said the US naval blockade on Iran's ports since April 13 and the escalation in Lebanon were "clear evidence of US non-compliance with the ceasefire".

"Every choice has a price and the bill comes due," Ghalibaf said in post on X.

The remarks come as Tehran and Washington continue exchanging messages in an effort to finalise a framework agreement aimed at ending the war, which erupted with US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February and subsequently engulfed the region.

A fragile ceasefire between Iran, the United States and Israel has been in place since April 8, but military confrontations have continued in Lebanon despite Tehran's insistence that Lebanon should be covered by the truce.    �"AFP