Iran’s foreign minister says a return to nuclear diplomacy with the United States remains possible, provided mutual trust can be restored, warning that any military confrontation would trigger a wider regional conflict.
Speaking to CNN International on Sunday, Abbas Araghchi said indirect contact between Tehran and Washington were continuing through regional intermediaries and could lay the groundwork for renewed negotiations.
Araghchi said Iran’s main concern was not the prospect of war itself but the risk of miscalculation fuelled by misinformation and external pressure pushing the United States toward confrontation.
He said Iran no longer trusted the United States as a negotiating partner, citing past failures to uphold agreements, but added that efforts were underway to rebuild confidence.
“Unfortunately, we have lost our trust in the United States as a negotiating partner,” Araghchi said, adding that regional actors were helping relay messages between the two sides.
Describing the current exchanges as “fruitful,” Araghchi said they could evolve into substantive talks if Washington followed through on its stated objectives.
He said Iran shares U.S. President Donald Trump’s publicly stated goal of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, reiterating Tehran’s long-held position that it does not seek a nuclear bomb.
Araghchi added that any future agreement would have to include the lifting of U.S. sanctions, stressing that negotiations must focus on achievable outcomes rather than what he described as “impossible” demands.
Describing the current exchanges as “fruitful,” Araghchi said they could evolve into substantive talks if Washington followed through on its stated objectives.
He reiterated Tehran’s long-held position that it does not seek a nuclear bomb.
Araghchi added that any future agreement would have to include the lifting of U.S. sanctions, stressing that negotiations must focus on achievable outcomes rather than what he described as “impossible” demands.
He rejected proposals to expand talks to cover Iran’s ballistic missile programme or its regional allies, saying such issues fall outside the nuclear file.
Warning against escalation, Araghchi said a military conflict would be “a disaster for everybody,” noting that the presence of U.S. bases across the Middle East would inevitably draw multiple countries into any fighting.
He said Iran had learned lessons from its previous confrontation with Israel and had assessed its missile capabilities under combat conditions, but emphasised that preparedness did not signal a desire for war.
“We are very well prepared,” he said. “But being prepared doesn’t mean that we want war. We want to prevent a war.”
Addressing concerns raised by U.S. officials over detainees in Iran, Araghchi denied any plans for executions linked to recent unrest and said the rights of all detainees would be respected under Iranian law.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington could destroy Iran’s infrastructure “in two days,” while Tehran warned the U.S. would...
Children laughed, applauded and watched wide-eyed as animated characters lit up the screen at the opening of the ninth Animafilm International Anim...
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has “no trust” in the United States and will only consider negotiations if Was...
Georgia is positioning itself as a future energy bridge between the Caspian and Europe, backed by major infrastruc...
Uzbekistan’s Department for Combating Economic Crimes says it has uncovered a ...
Children laughed, applauded and watched wide-eyed as animated characters lit up the screen at the opening of the ninth Animafilm International Animation Festival in Baku, where filmmakers and audiences from around the world gathered to celebrate the growing influence of animated cinema.
Georgia is positioning itself as a future energy bridge between the Caspian and Europe, backed by major infrastructure plans and growing EU support. But behind the ambitious pitch lies a far more complicated political reality.
Uzbekistan’s Department for Combating Economic Crimes says it has uncovered a large-scale fraud and corruption scheme linked to labour migration to South Korea, with estimated damages reaching $90 million.
Russia and Ukraine exchanged prisoners of war as well as the bodies of fallen soldiers, on Friday (15 May). The swap came as Ukranian officials said Moscow had carried out its largest aerial attack over 48 hours since the conflict started.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has “no trust” in the United States and will only consider negotiations if Washington shows seriousness. His remarks came as talks on Iran’s nuclear programme continued, with Trump and Xi also opposing Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.
The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran loomed over U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to China, as signs emerged that the conflict is causing a shift in alliances across the Middle East.
Ukraine has stepped up attacks on Russian energy facilities in recent months, amid stalled progress in peace negotiations. The strikes have targeted refineries, processing plants, pipelines and export infrastructure, causing repeated disruptions across Russia’s energy sector.
Thousands of fans turned out in Iran's capital Tehran for a massive farewell ceremony on Wednesday night for their national football team, wishing them success before their departure for the World Cup 2026 matches co-hosted by the United States and Mexico.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was fighting for his political survival on Thursday (14 May) after Health Secretary Wes Streeting resigned, saying he had “lost confidence” in Starmer’s leadership.
Uzbekistan has launched a nationwide environmental initiative titled ‘Day Without Cars’, which will take place twice a month as part of efforts to improve air quality and reduce vehicle emissions.
The thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum will open in Baku on Sunday, bringing together government representatives, city leaders, urban planners, international organisations, businesses and civil society to discuss the future of sustainable urban development.
Children laughed, applauded and watched wide-eyed as animated characters lit up the screen at the opening of the ninth Animafilm International Animation Festival in Baku, where filmmakers and audiences from around the world gathered to celebrate the growing influence of animated cinema.
Leaders of the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS) gathered in the Kazakh city of Turkistan for an informal summit focused on strengthening cooperation in trade, transport, energy and regional connectivity as the bloc seeks to expand its geopolitical and economic influence across Eurasia.
Georgia is positioning itself as a future energy bridge between the Caspian and Europe, backed by major infrastructure plans and growing EU support. But behind the ambitious pitch lies a far more complicated political reality.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment