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Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has ruled out a rapid restart of negotiations with the United States, insisting Tehran first needs guarantees it will not be subjected to further military attacks.
Speaking in an interview with CBS Evening News on Monday, Araghchi responded to US President Donald Trump’s suggestion that nuclear talks with Iran might resume as early as this week. “I don’t believe negotiations will recommence that quickly,” the Iranian minister said.
“For us to consider reengaging, we must be assured that America will not revert to military strikes against us during the discussions,” Araghchi added.
“Given these concerns, more time is needed, although the door to diplomacy will never be fully closed,” he stated.
When asked about comments from the head of the UN nuclear watchdog, who said Iran could potentially begin producing enriched uranium within months, Araghchi dismissed the idea that bombings could erase Iran’s nuclear technology.
Araghchi reiterated Iran’s readiness to defend itself if attacked again. “We demonstrated during this 12-day imposed conflict that we possess the capability to defend ourselves, and we will continue to do so if faced with further aggression,” he said.
Meanwhile, Trump stated on Monday that he was not offering anything to Iran nor engaging in talks, following recent US-led attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities. The US and Iran were engaged in nuclear discussions when Israel struck Iranian nuclear and military sites, with the US joining by bombing the Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan sites on 21 June.
Israel has asserted for years that Iran’s nuclear programme is nearing bomb-making capability, whereas Tehran maintains it is for peaceful energy purposes.
Under the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran was permitted to enrich uranium up to 3.67 percent purity for civilian reactors.
Trump withdrew from the agreement in 2018, after which Iran began enriching uranium up to 60 percent — exceeding civilian levels but below weapons-grade. If further refined, this material could theoretically yield enough fissile material for over nine nuclear weapons.
