Iran insists it has not asked for any concessions from the United States

JAKARTA - Iran has reiterated that it is not seeking "any concessions" from the United States (US) and insists that Tehran only wants its rights restored and sanctions lifted.

"We do not want any concessions from the United States, we only demand our rights," said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei, as quoted from the Tasnim report as reported by ANTARA, Saturday, May 23.

Baghaei said Iran demands "the cessation of American criminal actions against the Iranian people."

"Sanctions must be lifted, Iran's frozen assets must be released and made available to the country," he said.

"For the past five decades, we have faced what they themselves call 'crushing sanctions'," he added.

Baghaei said the sanctions were imposed for various reasons, especially related to what Washington called Iran's nuclear threat.

"There is no nuclear threat from Iran to any party in the region or the world," he said.

Baghaei also alluded to developments related to the Strait of Hormuz by criticizing the United States naval blockade as an act that "completely contradicts international law."

He asked Washington to take steps to end the blockade.

Tensions in the region remain high since the US and Israel launched an attack on Iran in February, which was then retaliated by Tehran with attacks on Israel and US allies in the Gulf region, including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The ceasefire came into effect on April 8 through Pakistani mediation, but talks in Islamabad failed to produce a long-term deal.

US President Donald Trump then extended the ceasefire indefinitely, while maintaining a blockade on ships heading to or from Iranian ports through the strategic waterway.