Iran was open to negotiating with the United States, but not under the “maximum pressure” strategy employed by former President Donald Trump, according to Tehran’s top diplomat on Saturday.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that while sanctions relief would require talks, it could not occur within the framework of the “maximum pressure” policy, as that would be more about surrender than negotiation.
His comments were shared in a Telegram post.
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Araghchi’s statement came after Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned against negotiations with the U.S., calling such an approach “reckless.”
Khamenei, who has the final authority on Iran’s strategic decisions, referenced the country’s past dealings with the U.S. to support his stance.
In 2015, Iran signed a historic agreement with the U.S. and other world powers, including France, Germany, the UK, China, and Russia, to limit its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
However, in 2018, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the deal and reimposed severe sanctions, despite opposition from European allies.
Trump recently called for a “verified nuclear peace agreement” with Iran, asserting that the country “cannot have a nuclear weapon.” Iran, however, maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes and denies any intention to develop weapons.
Despite these tensions, President Biden reinstated the “maximum pressure” policy, and on Thursday, the U.S. imposed financial sanctions on individuals and entities accused of facilitating the export of Iranian crude oil to China.
In response, Araghchi emphasized that Iran would not negotiate with a country that continues to impose new sanctions.
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