Iran Rejects US Talks Without ‘Major Policy Shift,’ Says New Nuclear Deal Must Reflect Progress
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi indicated on Sunday that discussions with the United States on a new nuclear deal are “no longer possible” unless Washington changes its approach, according to Iranian state media. Araqchi’s comments follow a recent letter from US President Donald Trump giving Tehran two months to decide on entering negotiations or facing stricter sanctions under Trump’s “maximum pressure” campaign.
Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, dismissed the talks offer as deceptive, but Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Thursday that Tehran would issue a formal reply, addressing both the letter’s threats and the potential opportunities it poses.
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Araqchi clarified that Iran’s reluctance is not born out of “stubbornness” but is rooted in “history and experience.” He maintained that the United States must “recalibrate” its policy before Tehran would participate. “In my opinion, the 2015 pact in its current form cannot be revived,” Araqchi said, citing advances in Iran’s nuclear program that make a straightforward return untenable. However, he added that the 2015 accord could still serve as a “basis and model for negotiations.”
In 2018, President Trump withdrew the United States from the 2015 nuclear deal—originally struck between Iran and major powers—before reimposing sanctions. Tehran responded by breaching agreed-upon limits, enriching uranium up to 60% and prompting accusations from Western countries that it seeks nuclear weapons capabilities, which Iran denies, stating its program is strictly for peaceful purposes.
