Iran says 'main parts' of understanding text with US completed

Iran said on Thursday that the “main parts” of a text of understanding with the United States have been completed, while accusing Washington of undermining progress through changes in its position. Speaking on Iranian state television on Thursday evening, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeli Baghaei said Tehran had made it clear that it would not accept what he described as “illegitimate” demands during indirect contacts with the US. “The main part of the text of understanding has been completed,” Baghaei said, adding that “contradictory positions” from Washington were disrupting the process. He said the US had tried in recent days to impose “unusual demands” on Tehran, but Iran demonstrated that it “will never surrender to illegitimate conditions.” Baghaei also said the diplomatic track had been affected by what he called illegal US actions against Iran. He said mediators remain active and Tehran has conveyed its position to them “very clearly.” The remarks came hours after US President Donald Trump said he had called off a planned attack on Iran and that discussions and final details of a potential deal had been approved by various regional and international parties.