SAEDNEWS: Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Iran is ready for nuclear negotiations with the United States provided that the talks are free from threats and diktat.
According to SAEDNEWS, Speaking with Al Jazeera news network in an interview published late on Monday, Araghchi also said that there are contacts with the US president’s special envoy for the Middle East.
Contacts with US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff have been ongoing before and after the recent developments and are still continuing, he said, adding that Washington has put forward some ideas which are being reviewed by Tehran.
Iran is ready for nuclear negotiations free from threats and diktat, but it does not think that the US is now ready for fair talks, said Araghchi, emphasizing that when Washington is ready for such discussions, Tehran will seriously review that.
The foreign minister, at the same time, emphasized Iran’s military preparedness in the face of a potential new war.
If the US wants to re-test the military option, which it had tested before, Iran is ready even more than the previous war, Araghchi said in reference to the 12-day conflict that Israel began on June 13 and the United States joined later.
The top diplomat echoed similar comments on Monday when he met foreign ambassadors to Tehran to brief them on the latest riots in Iran. The riots erupted several days ago after foreign-backed elements morphed peaceful protests over economic issues into scenes of violence in different cities where they set fire to mosques, public and private property, among other acts of sabotage.
Araghchi told the ambassadors that Iran does not seek war, but remains ready for a possible new conflict. He added that Iran also remains ready for negotiation, but fair talks on an equal footing, with mutual respect, and based on mutual interests.
