Iran says contradictory US positions, Israeli attacks on Lebanon delaying diplomacy

DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran on Monday blamed the slow pace of efforts to end the ​U.S.-Iran conflict on a lack of trust, contradictory positions from Washington ‌and continued Israeli attacks in the region._x000D_
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“Negotiations have started amid severe suspicion and mistrust, and the exchange of messages is taking place in this atmosphere,” foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said, ​adding that the two countries had not yet reached a final ​conclusion._x000D_
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“The other party is constantly changing its views and putting forward ⁠new or contradictory demands (…) it is natural that this situation will prolong negotiations,” ​he said._x000D_
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aghaei said that if contradictory messages were part of a U.S. negotiating tactic, ​they would not work with Iran, while if they reflected disarray within the U.S. administration, Washington should reach a clear and definitive position as soon as possible._x000D_
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Baghaei said Tehran viewed Israeli ​actions in the region, including in Lebanon, as inseparable from those of the ​U.S., adding that any agreement to end the regional conflict would have to include implementation ‌of the ⁠Lebanon ceasefire._x000D_
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Talks and message exchanges with US underway, says Abbas Araghchi_x000D_
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His comments on Lebanon followed an order by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the military to resume strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold known as Dahiyeh._x000D_
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Baghaei added there had not yet been any negotiations over ​the details of the ​nuclear file, and ⁠said Tehran is pursuing its core demand for the release of its frozen funds._x000D_
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He accused the U.S. of violating ​the ceasefire through attacks on Iran’s southern provinces, saying such ​conduct deepened ⁠mistrust and entitled Iran to take reciprocal defensive measures under the principle of self-defence._x000D_
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The U.S. said it struck Iranian military sites at the weekend and Iran’s Revolutionary Guards ⁠said ​on Monday it had targeted a U.S. base ​in Kuwait in response._x000D_
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“Learn from the past and do not let the U.S. and Israel use your ​capabilities against Iran,” Baghaei warned regional countries.