Iran’s foreign minister has rejected the idea of direct negotiations with the United States, deeming them unproductive, following a recent appeal by U.S. President Donald Trump for talks over Iran’s nuclear program.
Trump had previously sent a letter to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in which he urged negotiations but also cautioned that military action could be considered if diplomacy failed. On Thursday, Trump reiterated his preference for direct talks, claiming they were quicker and more effective than using intermediaries.
However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded, stating that engaging in direct negotiations with a country that frequently threatens the use of force was unreasonable. He pointed to the contradictory statements made by various U.S. officials and emphasized that Iran was committed to diplomacy, but only through indirect channels.
“We remain committed to diplomacy and are ready to try the path of indirect negotiations,” Araghchi said, according to a statement from his ministry. “Iran keeps itself prepared for all possible or probable events, and just as it is serious in diplomacy and negotiations, it will also be decisive and serious in defending its national interests and sovereignty.”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also weighed in on the matter, stating on Saturday that Iran was open to discussions with the U.S., but only on equal terms. He questioned the sincerity of Washington’s desire for talks, asking, “If you want negotiations, then what is the point of threatening?”
Diplomatic ties between the U.S. and Iran have been severed since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, with countries like Oman occasionally acting as intermediaries. Trump’s letter was delivered to Iran through the United Arab Emirates, and Iran replied through Oman at the end of March.
General Mohammad Bagheri, Iran’s chief of staff, reiterated the country’s stance on peace in the region, stating that while Iran does not initiate conflicts, it will fiercely defend itself against any threats. “We are not the ones who start wars, but we will respond to any threat with all our might,” Bagheri said on Sunday.
The United States and its allies have long accused Iran of attempting to develop nuclear weapons, an allegation Iran firmly denies, maintaining that its nuclear efforts are solely for peaceful, civilian purposes. In 2015, Iran reached a significant deal with the U.S. and other major world powers, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which placed restrictions on its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
However, in 2018, the Trump administration unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA and re-imposed heavy sanctions on Iran. In response, Iran began scaling back its commitments under the deal and ramping up its nuclear activities.
Ali Larijani, a close advisor to Ayatollah Khamenei, also commented on the situation, asserting that while Iran does not seek nuclear weapons, it would have no choice but to pursue them if it faced an attack. “We are not seeking nuclear weapons, but we will have no choice but to do so if we are attacked,” he warned on Monday.
