Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has reiterated Tehran’s readiness to take part in indirect negotiations with the United States over its peaceful nuclear program, warning that US threats are “complicating” the current situation.
“The Islamic Republic, as in the past, is ready for real negotiations from an equal position and indirectly,” Araghchi said in a phone call with his Dutch counterpart, Caspar Veldkamp, on Wednesday. He stressed that this “requires a constructive atmosphere and the avoidance of approaches based on threats, intimidation and blackmail.”
The minister decried threats made by US officials against Iran as “unacceptable”, adding that they violate the UN Charter and international law and “complicate” the current situation.
Araghchi warned that Iran will “swiftly and decisively” respond to any aggression on its territorial integrity, sovereignty, and national interests.
Iran’s top diplomat also stressed that all United Nations member states have a responsibility to uphold the rule of law at the international level.
Meanwhile, he criticized the European Union over its failure to adopt a stance against the “provocative” rhetoric of US officials, which he said “threatens” international peace and security. For his part, Veldkamp expressed his concern about heightened tensions in the region, stressing the need for diplomacy to resolve disputes.
US President Donald Trump threatened over the weekend that he might order military strikes against Iran if Tehran refused to enter negotiations to “make a new deal” on its nuclear program.
During his first term in office, Trump withdrew the United States from a previous agreement on Iran’s nuclear program and launched a maximum pressure campaign against the country.
Trump restored that policy after returning to the White House for a second term in January, but he has since signaled a willingness to make a new deal to replace the 2015 deal, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
On March 12, Trump sent a letter to Iran’s leadership, asking for negotiations to reach a new deal and threatening military action if Tehran refused.
Iran has ruled out direct negotiations with the US under pressure and threats but says indirect talks remain a n option.
