Araghchi says Trump likely understands predecessors' failures on Iran

"I am cautiously optimistic that this toxic dynamic may be about to change," foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said in remarks prepared for the Carnegie conference on Iran's nuclear program, which cancelled his appearance following a dispute over the format of his speech.

Araghchi was referring to what he called misconceptions about Iran's peaceful nuclear program which he said hindered diplomacy in the past.

"President Trump seems aware of the catastrophic mistakes of previous administrations, which have cost American taxpayers trillions of dollars in our region—with zero gains for the United States," according to a draft of the speech he shared on X.

He said Iran remained committed to civilian nuclear technology and dangled the prospect of business opportunities with the United States in the sector.

"Our longstanding game plan is to build at least 19 more reactors, meaning that tens of billions of dollars in potential contracts are up for grabs. The Iranian market alone is big enough to revitalize the struggling nuclear industry in the United States."

Tehran would not negotiate in US talks about its defense given the volatility of the region, nor surrender nuclear capabilities allowed under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), he added.

"The scope of negotiations must also be clear; negotiations should remain focused solely on removal of sanctions and the nuclear issue," Araghchi said. "In a region as rough and volatile as ours, Iran will never put its security up for negotiation."

"Iran must not be treated as an exception within the global nonproliferation framework. As a signatory to the NPT, Iran is entitled to the same rights and bound by the same obligations as any other member," Araghchi added. "Respecting this principle of equality is essential to achieving a fair and lasting resolution."