Iran: US not serious about talks, will receive decisive response if repeats past mistakes

The Iranian Foreign Ministry says the United States is not serious about negotiations with Iran, asserting that Washington will face the Islamic Republic's decisive retaliation if it repeats its past mistakes concerning the country.

Spokesman Esmail Baghaei made the remarks at a press conference on Monday, citing contradictions between Washington's words and actions as a case in point regarding the latter's indecisive attitude towards the issue of the talks.

"[Their] words and actions are not consistent, and Iran will make the appropriate decision with careful consideration of its interests and national priorities," he stated.

The remarks came after the United States said it would continue blockading Iran's ports and vessels, despite the announcement of a two-week lull in aggression targeting the Islamic Republic by President Donald Trump on April 7.

Iran subsequently declared the strategic Strait of Hormuz closed to all traffic in retaliation, citing the continuation of the blockade as a violation of ceasefire conditions.

The Islamic Republic has vowed to retain the closure while the blockade is still in place. It has also refused to join any fresh talks with the American side unless a framework of understanding is reached between the two sides.

"From the early days of the ceasefire, we were faced with the US's bad faith, contradictory statements, followed by a naval blockade," Baghaei said.

He also referred to a recent American attack on an Iranian vessel that was faced with a decisive response on the part of the Islamic Republic, forcing US troops in the Sea of Oman to retreat. The spokesman identified the attack as "a violation of maritime agreements and an act of aggression."

US commits maritime piracy, attacks Iranian commercial ship in violation of ceasefire

The United States has carried out a flagrant act of aggression on an Iranian merchant vessel in the waters of the Sea of Oman.

The official additionally pointed out continuation of the Israeli regime's violations against Lebanon, despite the Islamic Republic's insistence on cessation of aggression on all fronts as an indivisible part of any ceasefire.

Referring to the Israeli regime's rehashing its claim of acting in "self-defense" to try to justify its violations, Baghaei said, "This is another example where the other side shifts the blame and conceals its own shortcomings."

Concerning the likelihood of further talks with the American side, the official said no decision had been made yet regarding the next round.

Iran, he added, could not forget the costly experience of Washington's previous breaches of its promises.

"So, we remain vigilant against the enemy’s schemes, and this is the duty of the negotiating team and all Iranian institutions," the spokesman asserted.

Baghaei, meanwhile, underlined that the US has repeatedly tested Iran before by reneging on its pledges and facing decisive backlash from the Islamic Republic, saying Washington would face the same experience upon repeating its past mistakes.

"The US insists on repeating its mistakes, and it will receive a response similar to the past."

'Iran needs to be more cautions than wartime'

In light of the absence of all trust between the two sides, Iran is "not optimistic" about the talks, rather adopting a "realistic" attitude towards the matter, the official noted.

He again urged vigilance in the face of the enemy's schemes, and said Iran had to exercise even more caution under the current circumstances that it would during the wartime.

He identified the Islamic Republic's priority as pursuit of its national interests, stressing that the country does not recognize any deadlines or ultimatums in pursuing those interests.

'US positions remain unreasonable'

The spokesman said the US continues to insist on its "unreasonable and unrealistic positions."

Baghaei, however, reiterated Iran's positions, saying transfer of enriched uranium outside the Islamic Republic has never been an option for the country, dismissing American officials' remarks in this regard as mere claims and ideas pursued by Washington.

Iran, he added, would not put its defense capabilities, including missile power, up for negotiation either.

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