That Iranian requirement for Israel to withdraw from Lebanon before talks can proceed is a stumbling block.
Just now from The Hormuz Report on X:
BREAKING: Iran's top negotiator Ghalibaf directly contradicts JD Vance's technical talk claim—declaring Iran is "ready for war" and "negotiations with the US are now finished" until frozen funds are released and Israel fully withdraws from Lebanon, per an interview with Tasnim News Agency.I have been reading that the talks that are happening now are logistical discussions about transferring the first $3 billion in frozen Iranian assets.
Vance had claimed that Iran's denial of peace talks is a "Persian negotiating tactic and rhetorical device that he does not understand" insisting that technical talks are ongoing. Ghalibaf's response: "there are no negotiations". "We will not proceed to the other issues until the first five clauses are fulfilled."
Ghalibaf also called recent U.S. strikes a "violation of the ceasefire" and made clear that toll-free passage in the Strait of Hormuz is only for 60 days per the MOU, after which Iran will charge fees—describing the Strait as Iran's "greatest power tool." No funds, no withdrawal, no talks. The Strait is Iran's. Vance can call it a "tactic." and Iran still denies.
