Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has confirmed that negotiations with the United States are continuing through intermediaries, including Pakistan and Qatar, while insisting that Tehran has not closed the door to diplomacy.
In remarks to the Iraqi news outlet Al-Ekhbariya, Araghchi asserted that it is “the American side that is obstructing the negotiating process,” emphasizing that Iran remains open to a diplomatic resolution.
“Seven-Day Plan” and Shifting U.S. Conditions
According to the foreign minister, Iran had previously presented Washington with an initiative—referred to as the “Seven-Day Plan”—that clearly outlined its conditions. Araghchi indicated that the Americans had informed Tehran of their agreement to these terms but are now seeking to add further conditions.
He also addressed the status of the Strait of Hormuz, noting that it lies within the internal waters of Iran and the Sultanate of Oman and therefore does not constitute international waters—a point of longstanding sensitivity in regional maritime disputes.
Araghchi acknowledged that a lack of trust in the American approach persists, but reiterated that, from Iran’s perspective, the doors to diplomacy remain fully open—provided the other side adheres to the understandings reached.
Iran Vows to Resist Sanctions and Threats
The foreign minister affirmed that Iran will not yield to American sanctions or threats, stressing that “the United States must realize that the pressures and measures it exerts against Iran will yield no results.”
He observed that Washington has failed to achieve any of its objectives despite more than eight months having passed since the war began, characterizing this as a “strategic defeat” for the United States while representing a “strategic success and a victory for Iran.”
Araghchi also affirmed that “Hezbollah and Ansar Allah are friends of Iran,” describing them as forces that are “resisting and striving to achieve goals he described as legitimate, legal, and just.”
Pezeshkian: U.S. Must End Pressure Before Talks
In a related development, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, while receiving the Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan, General Asim Munir, emphasized the necessity for the United States to end all forms of pressure, threats, and sanctions before any negotiations can begin, stressing that Tehran does not trust American policies.
For his part, General Munir expressed Pakistan’s concern regarding the potential for a renewed conflict, affirming Islamabad’s readiness to assist in resolving disputes through diplomatic means. He noted that engaging in negotiations does not signify weakness or surrender; rather, it provides an opportunity to address problems without resorting to war.
Nuclear Material a “National Treasure”
Meanwhile, Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, stressed that Iran will not transfer any amount—no matter how small—of enriched nuclear material outside the country, asserting that such material represents a “strategic asset and a national treasure for the Iranian people.”
Additionally, Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament (Islamic Consultative Assembly), stated that Washington would only be able to regain Tehran’s trust by fulfilling its seven conditions. He pointed to the Trump administration’s violation of the memorandum of understanding, coupled with an escalation in threats, as having further deepened the lack of trust between the two sides.
Source: Agencies (edited by Al-Manar)