Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has stated that Tehran will not engage in any discussions with Washington unless US President Donald Trump changes his policies. He also warned that Iran is always prepared for war.
Recently, US President Donald Trump gave Iran a two-month deadline to agree to a new nuclear deal, threatening military action if Tehran refused. This threat drew strong criticism from Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who urged the US to refrain from escalation.
In a recent interview, Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, revealed that the US President had sent a proposal to Iran's Supreme Leader for talks on a potential new nuclear agreement, aiming to avoid direct military confrontation. Witkoff emphasized that not everything needs to be resolved militarily.
However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi asserted that no discussions are possible unless the US changes its pressure tactics.
Diplomacy Amidst Threats
In an interview with local media, Araqchi, referring to President Trump's letter, said, "Exchanging letters is part of diplomacy, but it can also be a form of pressure and threats."
Araqchi further stated, "The Islamic Republic of Iran always avoids war and does not desire it, but Iran is prepared for war and does not fear it. Iran's foreign policy is based on diplomacy and avoiding war, unless war becomes inevitable."
Accusing Trump's letter of being a threat, Araqchi indicated that Tehran would respond promptly. "We have no connection with Trump's expectations; we act in our own interests. We do what is beneficial," he said.
Distrust and Readiness
The Iranian Foreign Minister clarified, "Our refusal to engage in discussions with the US is not due to stubbornness but rather learning from experience and history. Experts believe that under the current circumstances, engaging in discussions with the US is not possible without significant changes."
Tehran's trust in Washington was severely undermined after Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the historic nuclear deal in 2018. Following the withdrawal, Iran increased uranium enrichment to 60 percent. Despite this, Trump has signaled a willingness to engage in talks with Iran since his return to the White House this year.
(Source: Reuters)
