Iran won't negotiate with US unless Trump stops his threats, says Araghchi

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi

Iran has said it will not engage in direct negotiations with the United States unless President Donald Trump stops his threats of military action against it.

Speaking to reporters during a visit to Istanbul on Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said talks to calm tensions between Iran and the United States had to be based on a “fair and equitable” approach and could not begin with threats.

Tensions have escalated between Tehran and Washington in recent weeks, following Trump’s statements that a “massive armada” was moving toward Iran, alongside his call for Tehran to “come to the table” for negotiations.

Trump threatened military action against Iran, aimed at forcing it to agree to US demands that include a halt to its nuclear program, limits on its ballistic missiles and the end of its support to allied militias in the Arab world.

Trump, who has said that time is running out before he strikes Iran “with great power, enthusiasm and purpose,” is now considering options for an attack, US officials have said.

Iranian officials have warned that any US attack would draw a “swift and comprehensive” response, while reiterating that Tehran remains open to talks only under what it describes as “fair, balanced, and noncoercive terms.”

“Just as we are ready for negotiations, we are ready for warfare,” Araghchi said. He also ruled out any discussion of Iran’s ballistic missiles, calling them essential to its security.

“Iran’s missiles and defense systems will never be the subject of any negotiations,” he said, adding that he had no plans to meet in person with any American officials.

Several countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Oman and Turkey, have been urging the United States to reassess its position while trying to persuade Iran to come to the table.

Speaking alongside Araghchi on Friday, the Turkish foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, said his country opposed any efforts to solve regional problems with military action.

“We defend negotiations and diplomacy,” he said. “While we are trying to heal the wounds of the past, opening another wound would not benefit anyone.”

Erdogan told his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, by telephone on Friday that Turkey was ready to mediate to “ease tensions and resolve issues” between the United States and Iran, Erdogan’s communications office said on social media.

Trump’s threats come at a sensitive time for Iran, which is dealing with the aftermath of weeks of antigovernment protests that the security forces crushed with overwhelming force. The government says more than 3,000 people were killed, but various human rights groups have said the death toll is much higher. — Agencies