{"id":54148,"date":"2026-04-18T10:38:29","date_gmt":"2026-04-18T14:38:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/iran-delays-direct-talks-blames-washingtons-excessive-demands\/"},"modified":"2026-04-18T10:38:29","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T14:38:29","slug":"iran-delays-direct-talks-blames-washingtons-excessive-demands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/iran-delays-direct-talks-blames-washingtons-excessive-demands\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran Delays Direct Talks, Blames Washington’s ‘Excessive’ Demands"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n

ANTALYA, Turkey (AP) \u2014 A high-ranking Iranian diplomat announced Saturday that Tehran remains unprepared for direct negotiations with American officials, blaming Washington’s unwillingness to drop what he characterized as “excessive” positions on critical matters.<\/p>

Speaking with The Associated Press during a diplomatic conference in Turkey, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh firmly dismissed President Donald Trump’s assertions about transferring enriched uranium, stating his nation would never surrender such materials to America.<\/p>

“I can tell you that no enriched material is going to be shipped to United States,” Khatibzadeh stated. “This is non-starter and I can assure you that while we are ready to address any concerns that we do have, we’re not going to accept things that are non-starters.”<\/p>

Trump declared Friday that America would enter Iran to “get all the nuclear dust,” referencing approximately 970 pounds (440 kilograms) of enriched uranium reportedly stored beneath nuclear facilities severely damaged during U.S. military operations last year.<\/p>

While acknowledging ongoing message exchanges between both nations, Khatibzadeh criticized the United States for maintaining positions that Iran considers unreasonable.<\/p>

“We are still not there yet to move on to an actual meeting because there are issues that the Americans have not yet abandoned their maximalist position,” Khatibzadeh explained. He noted Iran wants to complete a “framework agreement” before proceeding with face-to-face discussions.<\/p>

The Iranian representative declined to detail specific negotiation points or identify outstanding disputes, but urged Washington to address Tehran’s primary concerns, particularly economic sanctions targeting Iran.<\/p>

“The other sides also should understand and address our main concerns, which are illegal unilateral sanctions that Americans have imposed on Iranians and this economic terrorism which has targeted Iranian people to suffocate them and make them to revolt against the political structure inside Iran,” Khatibzadeh said.<\/p>

Regarding potential Iranian responses to renewed Israeli attacks on Lebanon despite the ceasefire, Khatibzadeh declared: “Iran has no option, just to stop aggressors once and forever.”<\/p>

Trump announced that Israel faces U.S. restrictions on additional Lebanese strikes, saying “enough is enough” regarding the Israel-Hezbollah conflict.<\/p>

The State Department clarified these limitations apply solely to offensive operations, not defensive actions.<\/p>

The Iranian official reaffirmed Tehran’s stance that its actions were defensive responses to unprovoked aggression during ongoing negotiations.<\/p>

He also restated Iran’s demand that any ceasefire include Lebanon, where Israel has been battling the Iran-supported militant organization Hezbollah.<\/p>

Following last week’s temporary U.S.-Iran truce, Pakistan and Iran claimed it covered Lebanon, but Israel and subsequently the U.S. rejected this interpretation. Israel then conducted multiple airstrikes on central Beirut, prompting Iran to announce another closure of the Strait of Hormuz. After Friday’s Lebanese truce implementation, Iran declared the strait reopened.<\/p>

“Iran negotiated with good faith, accepted a ceasefire and told everybody that this ceasefire should include all countries, including Lebanon,” Khatibzadeh said. “Then the other side said that, it is not committed to this and then started atrocities.”<\/p>

He indicated that negotiations with the U.S. would establish a “new protocol” for the Strait of Hormuz, ensuring it would “remain open and safe for all civilian passage.”<\/p>

Trump has indicated the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz will continue and military action will resume without an Iranian agreement.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A senior Iranian diplomat says his country isn’t prepared for in-person negotiations with U.S. officials, citing America’s unwillingness to drop what he calls “maximalist” positions. The Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister also firmly rejected President Trump’s claims about transferring enriched uranium to the United States.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":54147,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[832],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-54148","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776523108820.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbtNqq-e5m","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":54102,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/iran-postpones-us-talks-until-framework-agreement-reached\/","url_meta":{"origin":54148,"position":0},"title":"Iran Postpones US Talks Until Framework Agreement Reached","author":"Admin","date":"April 18, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Iranian officials say they won't schedule additional diplomatic meetings with the United States until both countries establish a preliminary framework for discussions. The announcement comes after historic high-level talks in Islamabad ended without reaching any agreements last weekend.","rel":"","context":"In "World News"","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776514943229.jpg?fit=450%2C288&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":54309,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/iran-backs-away-from-u-s-peace-talks-despite-pakistans-diplomatic-push\/","url_meta":{"origin":54148,"position":1},"title":"Iran Backs Away from U.S. Peace Talks Despite Pakistan’s Diplomatic Push","author":"Admin","date":"April 18, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Iran has withdrawn from planned negotiations with the United States that were set to take place in Pakistan by Monday. Despite extensive mediation efforts by Pakistani officials, tensions between Tehran and Washington have escalated over Iran's threats to close the Strait of Hormuz.","rel":"","context":"In "World News"","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776555448880.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":54401,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/iran-reinforces-strait-of-hormuz-blockade-as-ceasefire-nears-end\/","url_meta":{"origin":54148,"position":2},"title":"Iran Reinforces Strait of Hormuz Blockade as Ceasefire Nears End","author":"Admin","date":"April 19, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Iran has strengthened its commitment to blocking ships through the Strait of Hormuz while the U.S. maintains its blockade of Iranian ports. With the current ceasefire set to expire Wednesday, Pakistani mediators are working urgently to arrange new negotiations between the two nations.","rel":"","context":"In "World News"","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776587775726.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776587775726.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776587775726.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776587775726.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":36867,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/us-iran-clash-over-whether-sunken-warship-was-armed-during-attack\/","url_meta":{"origin":54148,"position":3},"title":"US, Iran Clash Over Whether Sunken Warship Was Armed During Attack","author":"Admin","date":"March 14, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The United States and Iran are disputing whether an Iranian warship was carrying weapons when it was torpedoed by a U.S. submarine in the Indian Ocean on March 4. Iran claims the vessel was unarmed and returning from ceremonial naval exercises, while the U.S. military rejects that characterization.","rel":"","context":"In "World News"","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1773479209850.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1773479209850.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1773479209850.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1773479209850.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":73881,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/irans-nuclear-material-key-leverage-as-u-s-talks-loom\/","url_meta":{"origin":54148,"position":4},"title":"Iran’s Nuclear Material Key Leverage as U.S. Talks Loom","author":"Admin","date":"May 29, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Iran and the United States are discussing extending their ceasefire to begin nuclear negotiations, with Washington demanding Iran cannot develop nuclear weapons. Despite June bombing attacks that damaged Iran's uranium enrichment facilities, significant amounts of highly enriched uranium are believed to have survived underground.","rel":"","context":"In "World News"","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1780080725513.jpg?fit=450%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":52121,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/vp-vance-iran-negotiations-show-progress-but-nuclear-issues-remain-unresolved\/","url_meta":{"origin":54148,"position":5},"title":"VP Vance: Iran Negotiations Show Progress But Nuclear Issues Remain Unresolved","author":"Admin","date":"April 14, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Vice President JD Vance reports that weekend diplomatic talks with Iran in Islamabad advanced but failed to reach an agreement. Key sticking points include nuclear weapon safeguards and reopening the Strait of Hormuz shipping route.","rel":"","context":"In "Politics"","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/politics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776206364640.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54148","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54148"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54148\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/54147"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54148"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54148"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54148"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}