Iran: No negotiations with US while threats, sanctions persist

PressTV
Fri, 07 Mar 2025 05:43 UTC

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Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas at Iranian consulate interview in Jeddah • March 7, 2025

Friday, on the sidelines of his visit to Jeddah, Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi told AFP:

"We will not enter any direct negotiations with the US so long as they continue their maximum pressure policy and their threats."

Araghchi, who traveled to the Saudi city on Friday to participate in an Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting, reaffirmed Iran's peaceful approach toward its nuclear program and advised US policymakers to observe the conditions of a "fair and just negotiation" instead of abusing the language of pressure and threat.

He went on to refer to Iran's ongoing negotiations with other parties to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), including Russia, China, and three European countries.

The interview came on the same day as Trump claimed to have sent a letter to Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. The claim, however, was rejected by the Iranian mission to the UN.

Speaking to Fox News, Trump said he hoped for achieving a deal with Tehran before making military threats against the country.

"I think they want to get that letter. The other alternative is we have to do something, because you can't let another nuclear weapon despite Tehran's repeated stance that it does not seek to develop nukes."

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Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs • Tehran, Iran

Addressing repeated Israeli and American military threats against Iranian nuclear facilities, Araghchi noted that the program cannot be destroyed militarily:

"Iran's nuclear program cannot be destroyed through military operations... this is a technology that we have achieved, and the technology is in the brains and cannot be bombed. Iran's nuclear facilities are scattered in many different parts of the country and are properly protected, and we are sure that they cannot be destroyed."

Furthermore, the top envoy touched on:

"Iran's ability to respond to military aggression in a completely proportionate and balanced manner. The Israelis themselves know, and others in the region know, that any action taken against Iran will be followed by a similar action against Israel."

Comment: Who's first move to deescalate is it? Start with the rhetoric...

Iran has strongly condemned the military threats posed by Israel, and the West's criticism of the country's defense capabilities as outrageous and irrational.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said on Thursday while Israeli officials keep threatening Iran with military action, the West continues to blame the country for boosting its defense capability.

Baqaei noted that the West Asia region is scourged by an occupying entity that is long addicted to aggression and lawless behavior. Therefore, he added, it is only responsible and essential for Iran to maximize its defense capabilities. His remarks came after Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said military action is needed to halt Iran's nuclear program.

Over the past years, the West has also censured Iran's work on nuclear, drone, space, and missile programs, demanding Tehran to stop them.

Iran has frequently asserted that its military progress is only meant to boost the country's deterrence against threats from adversaries, especially Israel and the US.