Iran’s Araghchi says US threats undermine call for negotiations


Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that US threats against Iran contradicted Washington’s stated desire for negotiations, adding that military action would not produce results.
“There is a contradiction in the attitude and stance of the USA,” Araghchi said at a joint news conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
“A military attack or military intervention is not an alternative,” he said, referring to US action last June. “They did this and it did not reach any result.”
“While they are threatening us, they want to continue negotiations,” Araghchi said, adding that repeating military pressure would lead to the same outcome.
He said the US had sought negotiations through intermediaries but warned talks could not begin under pressure.
“You do not start negotiations with threats,” Araghchi said. “First of all, they should leave aside their threats.”
He added that Iran remained open to diplomacy. “If they want to negotiate with a fair and equitable understanding, the Islamic Republic of Iran has never left diplomacy aside, and it is not going to do so,” he said.