Iran warns talks will collapse over two issues

“There will be no agreement if the United States insists on these points,” Iran told Pakistan.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Iran warned that negotiations with the United States could collapse over unresolved disputes involving frozen Iranian assets and language concerning Lebanon, according to reports Sunday from Iranian and Arab media outlets.

Tasnim News Agency reported that disagreements remained over several provisions in a proposed memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran, including the release of Iranian assets frozen abroad.

“Obstruction by the United States on several clauses of the memorandum of understanding, including the issue of releasing frozen Iranian assets, is still continuing, and so far these issues have not been resolved,” Tasnim reported.

“At this stage, there is still a possibility that the memorandum of understanding will not be implemented, and Iran has stressed that it will not retreat from its red lines for the sake of realizing the rights of the people.”

Al Jazeera also reported difficulties in the negotiations, citing disputes over both Lebanon and the timing of sanctions-related measures.

According to the report, American negotiators are demanding language stating that Israel would be permitted to act in Lebanon “if there is a threat,” a formulation Iranian negotiators have rejected.

Another dispute centers on Iran’s demands for the release of frozen assets during the agreement’s framework stage. The Americans, according to the report, said any asset release would occur only as part of a final agreement.

Iran also conveyed a warning to Pakistan regarding the negotiations, according to the reports.

“There will be no agreement if the United States insists on these points,” Iran told Pakistan, according to the reported message.

The reports did not indicate that the disputes had been resolved, and Tasnim said the possibility remained that the memorandum of understanding would not move forward.