Iran’s Foreign Ministry has said that it cannot yet confirm an agreement with the United States is imminent, even as visits to Tehran by senior Pakistani and Qatari officials indicate the negotiations have reached a “decisive” stage.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told state television on Friday that the process remains ongoing.

“The differences between Iran and the United States are so deep and extensive, especially after the crimes they have committed over the past two or three months,” he said.

“Diplomacy is time-consuming, and both sides use every opportunity to convey their viewpoints.”

Baghaei emphasised that the talks, mediated by Pakistan, are focused on ending hostilities rather than detailed nuclear discussions.

“Nuclear issues are not supposed to have their details discussed at this stage,” he said, adding that other priorities include developments in the Strait of Hormuz and what Iran calls Washington’s illegal naval blockade and attacks on maritime traffic.

Asked about US nuclear demands, Baghaei reiterated that Iran’s immediate focus is on stopping aggression.

He noted that revisiting detailed nuclear disputes at this point would not produce results.

“We have gone down this path before, and the disagreements were so extensive that we could not reach an agreement,” he said, referring to previous US and Israeli attacks on Iran in June last year and on February 27, which occurred even while Washington participated in diplomatic talks.

On nuclear rights, Baghaei reaffirmed Iran’s position as a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), insisting that the country retains the right to peaceful nuclear enrichment.

He also reiterated that Tehran will not allow highly enriched uranium to leave the country, despite Washington’s repeated demands.

Baghaei confirmed that a Qatari delegation met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Tehran, describing efforts by regional and non-regional countries to end the crisis as “valuable.”

He stressed, however, that Pakistan remains the official mediator of the negotiations.