Media reports on US sanctions pause lack credibility, says Iran

A potential agreement between the Islamic Republic and the United States could bolster Iran’s position and benefit the Palestinian people, said the representative of Hamas in Tehran.

“If a major country like Iran reaches an agreement with the US, Iran will become stronger and better able to support the Palestinian people,” Khaled al-Qaddoumi said.

Hamas views an end to sanctions on Tehran as essential, he added.

“We strongly need Iran to be independent and free of sanctions.”

US President Donald Trump’s special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, spoke with Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on Sunday evening, according to an official Egyptian readout.

Abdelatty expressed Cairo’s support for the talks, saying, “The US-Iranian talks represent a critical opportunity to achieve calm and de-escalation in the region and prevent its slide into total chaos.”

Araghchi arrived in Cairo on Sunday for talks with senior Egyptian officials focusing on bilateral relations.

On Monday, Araghchi met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Cairo.

Earlier in the day, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said that during Araghchi’s visit to Egypt, the foreign minister may discuss ongoing indirect negotiations with the United States.

Responding to reports of a planned meeting between Araghchi and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi in Egypt, Baghaei said the meeting “cannot be confirmed.”

Iran’s foreign ministry on Monday condemned Israel’s reaction to the latest IAEA report.

“This regime has always posed a threat to the region, and that is nothing new,” spokesman Esmail Baghaei said at his press briefing.

“Any reckless act by this regime will undoubtedly face a decisive reaction.”

Baghaei accused Israel of deflecting attention from its own arsenal and conduct.

“A regime with dozens of nuclear warheads, guilty of genocide in the occupied territories, and in violation of every major arms control treaty, has no standing to invoke the IAEA,” he said.

The Islamic Republic said on Monday that pressures from the United States would not force concessions, accusing successive American administrations of choosing conflict over diplomacy.

“What matters to us is the actual conduct of US policymakers,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said.

“Unfortunately, American policy for more than four decades has consistently followed a path of confrontation.”

“The Iranian people are not a nation that kneels under threat, intimidation or pressure,” he said.

“We will not abandon our rights or our dignity.”

Iran is prepared to respond to any future moves by Western governments that it views as escalatory or disruptive, the foreign ministry said Monday.

“In light of the actions of the other parties, we have certainly anticipated various scenarios,” spokesman Esmail Baghaei said at his press briefing. “If any of them materialize, we will take appropriate measures based on the circumstances.”

If Western states resort to “unconstructive mechanisms,” Iran would not remain passive, he said.

“The Islamic Republic has corresponding tools and options to respond accordingly.”