GENEVA – Iran said on Sunday that negotiations with the United States were not its preferred course of action, even as senior officials from both countries gathered in Switzerland for a fresh round of talks aimed at advancing a preliminary agreement reached earlier this week.
Hojjatoleslam Abdollah Haji Sadeghi, the Supreme Leader’s representative to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said Tehran would engage in diplomacy “with power and caution” but stressed that negotiations were not Iran’s primary option.
“Our primary option is the field of jihad, whether on the battlefield or in the streets,” Iranian media quoted him as saying, adding that Tehran was not concerned about the prospect of talks failing.
The negotiations follow a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on June 18 that laid the groundwork for a ceasefire and a broader diplomatic process between Washington and Tehran.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said discussions in Switzerland would focus on ensuring implementation of commitments contained in the agreement, particularly provisions related to the cessation of hostilities, Iran’s oil exports and the release of frozen assets.
Tehran has also indicated that alleged Israeli violations of the Lebanon ceasefire will feature prominently in the talks.
“The Zionist regime continues to violate its commitments in Lebanon; this issue will be the main topic of discussion,” an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman said.
President Masoud Pezeshkian described the understanding reached with Washington as being largely in Iran’s interest, saying it would allow the country to regain access to financial resources currently held abroad.
Speaking in Tehran, Mr Pezeshkian expressed optimism that $6 billion in Iranian funds frozen in Qatar would be released as negotiations progressed. He also reiterated that Iran had no intention of developing nuclear weapons, describing that position as consistent with the country’s longstanding policy.
The Iranian president further accused Israel of opposing the diplomatic process and attempting to prolong instability in the region.
Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance arrived in Switzerland to participate in the talks, expressing hope that progress could be achieved on both Iran’s nuclear programme and the situation in Lebanon.
“I think we’re going to hopefully make progress on the nuclear issue and the Lebanon ceasefire issue,” Mr Vance told reporters before departing for Switzerland.
The negotiations come against the backdrop of renewed tensions over the Strait of Hormuz after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned of risks to shipping following Israeli military actions in Lebanon. However, US officials said commercial traffic through the strategic waterway continued uninterrupted.
Iran’s delegation is being led by senior officials including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, while the US team includes Mr Vance and senior envoy Steve Witkoff.
Pakistani officials are also participating in the discussions alongside representatives from Qatar, reflecting Islamabad’s role in facilitating the initial agreement between Washington and Tehran.
Technical-level negotiations are expected to continue beyond Sunday, with officials from both sides indicating that talks would proceed for as long as necessary.
