Iran’s foreign minister signals readiness to restart nuclear negotiations with US
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday that Tehran is prepared to resume nuclear negotiations with the United States, but he emphasized that Washington must first halt threats of military action against Iran.
Araghchi made the remarks during a press conference in Ankara alongside his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan. Turkey has been leading efforts to mediate between the U.S. and Iran in recent days, leveraging its close ties with both nations. Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia have also relayed messages in attempts to de-escalate tensions.
While President Trump has ordered a significant U.S. military buildup in the Gulf amid the threat of a strike, White House officials say no final decision has been made, and diplomatic options remain on the table. Trump himself indicated Thursday that he is in communication with Iran, stressing his conditions: “Number one, no nuclear and number two, stop killing protesters.”
Araghchi said there are currently no direct talks scheduled with U.S. officials, but negotiations could move forward under a framework being discussed by Turkey and other mediating countries. He noted that any future discussions must be “fair and equitable” and that Iran will not include its ballistic missile program in talks. The foreign minister stressed that Tehran is preparing for both possible outcomes: diplomacy or conflict.
Fidan, speaking after the joint press conference, said his recommendation is for the U.S. and Iran to start by addressing nuclear issues first. He called on both sides to come to the negotiating table to resolve their differences and confirmed he had consulted with the White House ahead of Araghchi’s visit to discuss potential venues and agendas for the talks.
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