Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, denied any recent contact with US special envoy for Iran, Steve Witkoff, and rejected reports that Tehran has requested negotiations with the Washington, IRNA reported.
“We are in contact with mediators who are trying to play a role in good-faith,” Araghchi said on the sidelines of a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday. “However, no decision [regarding negotiations] has been made, and there is no request from our side.”
The denial followed comments by US President Donald Trump, who on Tuesday referenced the presence of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the region and expressed hope that Tehran would reach an agreement with the US. He had previously claimed that Iranian officials had repeatedly contacted him seeking negotiations.
Talks between Iran and the US were halted following Israel’s attack in June, which resulted in a 12-day conflict that also saw the US targeting key Iranian nuclear sites.
In recent weeks, following a deadly unrest in Iran, the US has significantly increased its military presence in the region and issued threats of attack.
In his latest remarks, Trump criticized Iran for not reaching a deal in June, which he said forced the US strike on Iranian nuclear sites. He urged Iran to make a deal now, which he called “fair and equitable,” threatening that a next attack would be “far worse.”
Araghchi stressed that diplomacy cannot be achieved through military threats. “If they want negotiations to take place, they must abandon threats, excessive demands, and raising illogical issues,” he added.
He insisted that negotiations must be based on equality, mutual respect, and shared interests. “It is unacceptable for one party to achieve its goals through force, and that is not called diplomacy.”
Trump, while describing potential negotiations as focused on the nuclear issue, has reportedly sought to include discussions on other matters, including Iran’s missile program and regional influence – issues Iran has repeatedly declared as red lines and stated it will not discuss.
Regarding the position of regional countries, Araghchi said he is in constant contact with their ambassadors and believes there is a shared understanding that a military threat would destabilize the entire region. “The region is completely opposed to military threats, and everyone believes that instability will lead to major challenges. Therefore, regional countries oppose this [US military operation against Iran].”
