Tehran: Iran has reacted cautiously to the first round of direct talks with the United States, with officials and political figures stressing that nothing is final until everything is finalised. They continued to maintain that the US is not a trustworthy negotiating partner, according to Al Jazeera.
The first round of talks in Switzerland ended with both sides agreeing on a roadmap aimed at reaching a final agreement within 60 days. According to Iran, the negotiations resulted in waivers for oil exports and the release of some frozen assets. The two countries also agreed to establish a "de-confliction cell" to monitor the ceasefire in Lebanon.
Despite the agreement on a framework for further negotiations, Iranian officials have continued to point to the country's experience with the 2015 nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which was widely expected to become a turning point in relations between Tehran and Washington. References to that experience have featured prominently in reactions from Iranian officials, including those involved in the negotiations and those opposed to engagement with the US.
The same position has also been echoed by reformist figures. Esmail Gerami Moghaddam, chairman of Iran's National Trust Party, said support for the negotiating team existed alongside continuing mistrust of the United States. He said Iranians were aware of previous experiences during negotiations with Washington and added that no agreement would be signed without the approval of the country's leadership.
While negotiations continued, hardline figures also maintained pressure on foreign policy issues. Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, issued a warning regarding the Strait of Hormuz, saying decisions regarding the waterway rest with Iran and its armed forces.
His remarks came after Iran announced on Saturday that it had reclosed the Strait of Hormuz in response to disputes surrounding the regional ceasefire. Following the announcement, maritime traffic through the waterway declined sharply. According to maritime intelligence company Windward, 12 vessels crossed the strait on Sunday, compared with 35 the previous day.
Windward also reported that five of the eight vessels entering the strait had switched off their Automatic Identification Systems. The company said the traffic profile increasingly resembled conditions seen during previous periods of disruption rather than those of a fully functioning international waterway.
Questions also remain over the newly announced de-confliction cell. While authorities have presented it as part of efforts linked to the ceasefire in Lebanon, details regarding its structure and operation have not been made public. Uncertainty remains over how it would function, how compliance would be monitored and how disagreements between the parties would be addressed.
Analysts have also warned that the next phase of negotiations could prove difficult. Discussions are expected to cover sanctions, frozen assets and Iran's enriched uranium stockpile. Concerns have also been raised about the role the US may seek in handling Iran's nuclear material and about whether the US Congress would support lifting sanctions sought by Tehran.
As negotiations move into the next stage, Iranian officials continue to insist that no outcome should be regarded as complete until a final agreement is reached and all of its provisions are settled.