Iran's Foreign Minister: Not Seeking Ceasefire or Negotiations with U.S., Israel
Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, stated on Thursday that Iran is not seeking a ceasefire or negotiations with the United States and Israel amidst the ongoing conflict. His remarks, made in interviews with NBC Nightly News and "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," directly refuted U.S. President Donald Trump's claims that Iran was seeking a deal and was "totally defeated." Araghchi provided Iran's perspective on the conflict's progression, its commitment to self-defense, and the history of past discussions.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi explicitly stated that Iran is not seeking a ceasefire or negotiations with the United States and Israel amidst the ongoing conflict.
Stance on Ceasefire and Negotiations
Foreign Minister Araghchi explicitly stated that Iran has not requested a ceasefire and sees no reason to engage in discussions with the United States. This directly contradicted President Trump's assertions that Iran desired a resolution, a deal Trump said he would not accept due to unfavorable terms. Araghchi also indicated that negotiations are not currently deemed necessary by Iran.
Assessment of Current Conflict and Defense
Araghchi expressed confidence in Iran's capacity to confront the U.S. military. He characterized a potential deployment of U.S. ground troops by President Trump as a "big disaster" for the United States. He claimed that after six days, the U.S. had not achieved its stated primary objective of a "clean, rapid victory." The Foreign Minister suggested the U.S. was attempting to justify its actions, stating that any "plan B" would result in a greater failure.
He affirmed Iran's commitment to self-defense "as long as it takes," indicating this stance would continue until President Trump recognizes the conflict as an "illegal war with no victory." Araghchi described the conflict as a "war of choice" initiated by the U.S. He dismissed the notion of an existential threat to Iran's government, stating Iran remains "stable and strong enough" and anticipates a prolonged conflict, which contrasts with President Trump's previous projection of a four-to-five-week duration.
Historical Context of Discussions
Araghchi referenced previous discussions with the U.S., which he noted were underway before the U.S. and Israel initiated strikes against Iran. During those earlier negotiations, involving U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Iran had offered to dilute its enriched uranium. Araghchi characterized this as a significant concession intended to demonstrate Iran's non-pursuit of nuclear weapons.
Future Outlook
Regarding the previous offer to dilute enriched uranium, Araghchi stated that "nothing is on the table right now." He expressed skepticism about returning to talks, citing the prior experience of negotiations preceding U.S. and Israeli strikes. He added that any future decisions regarding negotiations and potential offers would depend on future circumstances.