Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister has stated that no date for further talks with the United States can be set until both sides agree on a shared framework for negotiations, according to a report by Al Jazeera.
The statement signals a cautious posture from Tehran as diplomatic contacts between the two countries continue, suggesting Iran is seeking clearer structural commitments before proceeding with additional rounds of dialogue.
The deputy foreign minister did not specify what elements such a framework would need to include, but the remarks indicate that Iran views foundational alignment on the terms and objectives of negotiations as a prerequisite - rather than something to be resolved through the talks themselves.
Fragile diplomatic process
The comments come amid a delicate period in US-Iran relations, with both governments having engaged in indirect and, more recently, reported direct diplomatic contacts over Iran's nuclear program. Those exchanges have raised cautious hopes of a negotiated agreement, but have also exposed significant gaps between the two sides on core issues including the scope of any potential deal and the question of sanctions relief.
Iran has consistently maintained that any agreement must guarantee it can pursue a civilian nuclear program, while the United States and its allies have pushed for strict limits on uranium enrichment and robust verification mechanisms.
The deputy foreign minister's remarks suggest Tehran is wary of entering further talks without clarity on what those talks are meant to achieve and under what conditions they would proceed.
Context of ongoing tensions
Diplomatic engagement between Washington and Tehran has historically been volatile, with negotiations frequently stalling or collapsing over procedural as well as substantive disagreements. The collapse of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action - following the US withdrawal in 2018 under the Trump administration - left deep mistrust on both sides that subsequent negotiations have struggled to overcome.
Efforts to revive a nuclear deal under the Biden administration failed to produce a final agreement, and the diplomatic landscape has since shifted further with changes in both governments' political compositions and stated priorities.
The deputy foreign minister's insistence on a prior framework agreement reflects a pattern in which Iran has sought guarantees or clear parameters before committing to formal negotiating rounds, a position that has at times frustrated Western counterparts who prefer engagement without preconditions.
No timeline for the next round of talks has been announced by either side.
