Iran Says Deal With the US Is Not Close

Iran’s Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that a deal with the United States is not near, as Tehran focuses on protecting its interests and says it is not bound by the wishes of its adversaries. Ministry spokesman Ismail Bakayi said the developments seen in recent weeks came after lengthy negotiations, but did not amount to an imminent agreement. Bakayi said the central aim of the talks was to end the war, and stressed that no discussion is currently taking place on the nuclear file. He said Tehran is determined to apply the best formula to safeguard Iranian interests. He also said there is no guarantee Washington will honor its commitments, adding that Iran is not paying attention to threats and is focused on securing its own interests. Bakayi said a country that can resist two nuclear powers for 40 days is also capable of defending its rights.