Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, has dismissed the idea of direct talks with the United States on its nuclear program, calling the prospect “meaningless.” This comes amid rising tensions between the two nations after President Donald Trump sent a letter last month to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, suggesting negotiations to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
In response to Trump’s ultimatum of “bombing” if no agreement is reached, Araghchi questioned the sincerity of Washington’s calls for dialogue, stating, “If you want negotiations, then what is the point of threatening?” Iran has consistently denied pursuing nuclear weapons and has expressed willingness for indirect diplomacy, a stance reaffirmed by Araghchi.
Iran has stated its desire to negotiate with the U.S. on an equal footing but criticized Washington’s contradictory positions and threats of military action, which it views as a violation of the UN Charter. The diplomatic impasse follows the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) under Trump’s leadership, which led Iran to scale back its compliance and amass enriched uranium.
As tensions continue to rise, Hossein Salami, head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, warned that Iran is ready for any military conflict but would not initiate war. Meanwhile, Iran’s regional influence is seen as weakening amid conflicts in Gaza and broader challenges from Israel and other adversaries.
Despite the tensions, Tehran maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, while Israel, the U.S.’s key ally, is believed to possess an undeclared nuclear arsenal.
