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Iran Open to Talks with the US but Rejects ‘Maximum Pressure’ Approach
Iran has expressed its willingness to engage in negotiations with the United States, but not under the conditions set by the "maximum pressure" strategy.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Saturday that lifting sanctions requires dialogue, but not within the framework of coercive policies, as such an approach would equate to capitulation rather than genuine negotiation. His remarks followed comments from Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who cautioned against negotiating with the US, labeling it as an imprudent move.
Khamenei, who holds ultimate authority over Iran's strategic decisions, referenced past diplomatic engagements with Washington. In 2015, Iran reached a historic agreement with global powers, including the US, France, Germany, the UK, China, and Russia, which regulated its nuclear program in exchange for sanction relief.
However, in 2018, the then-US administration withdrew from the accord unilaterally and reimposed severe sanctions on Tehran, despite opposition from European nations. On Wednesday, the US reiterated its stance, emphasizing the need for a "verified nuclear peace agreement" and insisting that Iran must not develop nuclear weapons.
Iran maintains that its nuclear program is intended solely for peaceful purposes and denies any ambition to produce atomic weaponry. Nonetheless, on Tuesday, Washington reinforced its "maximum pressure" policy, followed by new financial sanctions on Thursday targeting individuals and entities allegedly involved in Iranian crude oil transactions.
Araghchi reaffirmed on Saturday that Iran refuses to engage in negotiations with a country that simultaneously imposes fresh sanctions against it.
