No Timeline Yet: Iran Says Next Round of US Talks Hinges on Framework Agreement

Tehran: Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts between America and Iran, the path to dialogue has not yet been cleared. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh has clearly said that the date for the next talks between the two countries has not been decided. He says that unless both sides agree on some basic framework, there is no point in further talks. The recent high-level meeting held in Islamabad also ended without any concrete outcome, which has revealed the depth of differences.

Why could the date of the next talks not be decided?

Iran says that at present the priority is on preparing a “framework of understanding”. Unless both countries agree on this basic consensus, it is not considered practical to fix the date of a new meeting. Tehran does not want talks to start hastily and then fail.

What happened in the Islamabad meeting?

Recently, high-level talks were held between the two countries in Islamabad, which was considered important. This was said to be the largest level of conversation after the Iranian Revolution. There were some positive signs in the initial phase, but in the end no agreement could be reached.

Why did the talks derail?

According to Iran, the talks could not progress because the US side adopted a “maximalist approach”. That is, America's demands and conditions were very strict, on which it was difficult to agree. There is still a big difference between the two countries on legal and strategic issues.

What is America's stance?

US President Donald Trump had earlier indicated that the next meeting could be held soon. It was even said in some reports that new talks could be held in Islamabad soon. But looking at the current situation, this possibility seems to be weak.

Will new talks start soon?

According to sources, there is still uncertainty regarding the next talks. Logistical problems and lack of mutual consent are becoming major obstacles. Unless both sides agree on basic issues, it is difficult for talks to proceed.

What way forward can be found?

Experts believe that both the countries will first have to show some flexibility in their stance. Starting a conversation without common ground can be risky. Therefore, at present the focus is on preparing the same framework, which will become the foundation of further talks.