Iran says open to indirect nuclear talks with US

TEHRAN: Iran mentioned on Monday it was open to indirect talks with the United States, after President Donald Trump had demanded negotiations for a brand new nuclear deal.
“The way is open for indirect negotiations,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi mentioned, dismissing the prospect of direct talks “until there is a change in the other side’s approach towards the Islamic republic”.
The prime Iranian diplomat mentioned Tehran wouldn’t have interaction in direct talks with Washington below threats and as long as Trump preserve his “maximum pressure” coverage.
Under that coverage in his first time period as president, Trump withdrew the United States from a landmark settlement on Iran’s nuclear programme in 2018 and reimposed crippling sanctions on Tehran.
The deal, sealed in 2015 between Tehran and world powers, required Iran to restrict its nuclear ambitions in alternate for sanctions aid.
Western nations together with the United States have lengthy accused Iran of pursuing a nuclear weapon, which Tehran has denied, insisting its enrichment actions had been solely for peaceable functions.
On March 7, Trump mentioned he had written to Iran’s supreme chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to name for nuclear negotiations and warn of attainable army motion if Tehran refused.
The letter was delivered to Tehran on March 12 by UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash.
‘Threats’
On Friday Khamenei mentioned US threats “will get them nowhere”, warning of reciprocal measures “if they do anything malign” in opposition to Iran.
He has additionally has dismissed Trump’s outreach for talks, accusing him of making an attempt to deceive international public opinion by portraying the United States as keen to negotiate and Iran as unwilling to have interaction.
Araghchi on Thursday mentioned Trump’s letter was “more of a threat”, however added that it may additionally open up some alternatives and that Tehran would reply quickly.
The Iranian prime diplomat additionally mentioned Monday that “no one would even think of invading” Iran, “given that the country’s preparedness is very high and at 100 percent.”
“This is because they are familiar with the consequences,” he added.
US Middle East envoy Steven Witkoff, in an interview printed Friday, mentioned Trump’s purpose was to keep away from army battle by constructing belief with Iran.
He insisted the letter was not meant as a menace.
Araghchi additionally mentioned in an interview printed Sunday that “letters and correspondence make part of diplomacy” however additionally they could be a “part of pressure and threats.”
“But the reality is that it can never be said that the path of diplomacy is over, because the alternative to diplomacy is war,” he added.
Tehran and Washington reduce diplomatic ties after Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution that toppled the Western-backed shah.
Since then, the Swiss embassy in Tehran has facilitated communications between the 2 nations.
Gulf state Oman has additionally mediated indirect talks on Iran’s nuclear subject by way of the so-called “Muscat process”, which Araghchi had mentioned in October was “halted for the time being.”