Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that ongoing negotiations between Tehran and Washington, being mediated by Pakistan, have not collapsed but are currently facing serious difficulties due to what he described as contradictory signals from the United States.
Speaking during a press conference in New Delhi, Araghchi stated that Iran remained committed to diplomacy but lacked trust in Washington because of inconsistent messaging and policies.
“We do not trust the United States at all,” Araghchi said, adding that Iran would only engage in meaningful negotiations if the other side demonstrated seriousness and consistency.
The Iranian foreign minister stressed that Tehran did not initiate conflict in the region and had acted purely in self-defence. He added that Iran was attempting to preserve the current ceasefire despite rising tensions.
Addressing concerns over maritime security, Araghchi rejected claims that Iran was responsible for broader disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. He said restrictions applied only to countries directly involved in hostilities against Tehran.
According to Araghchi, several Indian vessels had recently been assisted by Iranian naval forces to ensure safe transit through the strategically vital waterway. He described the situation in the Strait of Hormuz as “very complex” and said all vessels were required to coordinate with the Iranian navy before passage.
Reaffirming Iran’s nuclear stance, Araghchi said Tehran had no intention of developing nuclear weapons and maintained that its nuclear programme remained peaceful.
On ties with Russia, he described relations with Moscow as a strong strategic partnership and confirmed that constructive discussions had taken place with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov a day earlier.
He also revealed that Russia had proposed the transfer of uranium enrichment operations, but Iran was not currently considering the idea. Talks with the United States on the nuclear issue, he said, remained deadlocked.
Araghchi further claimed that both Israel and the United States had previously failed to protect the United Arab Emirates, asserting that Iranian operations had only targeted American military bases in the Gulf state.
Regarding Pakistan’s mediation efforts, the Iranian foreign minister said the diplomatic channel remained active despite the current challenges. He emphasized that Iran continued to support dialogue but warned that contradictory American behaviour had deepened mistrust and complicated progress toward any breakthrough.
