Araghchi: Tehran ready for talks but not to accept ‘dictation’
Turkish FM: Israel pushing US to attack Iran
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that the Islamic Republic is prepared to hold talks with the United States on equal footing but underlined that Tehran will not accept “dictation and imposition.”
Speaking during a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan in Ankara, Araghchi said Iran is ready to enter negotiations if they are conducted from an equal position, based on mutual interests and mutual respect, however, he said that, “We will by no means accept dictation and imposition.”
He said Iran welcomes “any initiative that leads to peace and stability in the region, reduces tensions, and neutralizes the sinister plots of Israel.”
Tensions have worsened between Iran and the United States over the past weeks after US President Donald Trump threatened to attack Iran over its response to the recent foreign-backed riots across the country.
The US has also dispatched a strike group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln to the West Asia waters.
In his latest remarks, the US president said he has told Iran it has to do "two things" to avoid military action.
"Number one, no nuclear. And number two, stop killing protesters.”
"We have a lot of very big, very powerful ships sailing to Iran right now, and it would be great if we didn't have to use them."
Iran has rejected claims of killing protesters during recent riots in the country, saying that foreign-backed terrorists have been behind the killing of more than 3,000 people in Iran.
Responding to questions about contacts with Washington, Araghchi said the US government has sought negotiations through various intermediaries. “Iran has no problem with negotiation,” he said. “But negotiations cannot take shape under the shadow of threats. They must abandon threats and be ready for fair negotiations.”
Asked whether he might meet a US official in the coming hours or days, Araghchi said, “No plan has yet been arranged for a meeting between us and the Americans.”
Ready for war
At the same time, Araghchi issued a stark warning over US threats. “We have said many times, and I repeat once again: Iran, just as it is ready for negotiations, is also ready for war,” he said.
“We are even more prepared than before the 12-day war,” said the minister, referring to the US-Israeli aggression on Iran in June. The attacks came as Tehran and Washington were holding indirect talks on the nuclear issue mediated by Oman.
He said any future conflict would be different, particularly if the United States were directly involved, and warned it could “expand beyond a bilateral war.”
Araghchi also made clear that Iran’s defensive capabilities are not up for discussion. “Iran’s defensive capability and missiles will never be the subject of any negotiation,” he said.
Opposition to military action
Fidan reiterated Ankara’s opposition to military action against Iran. “We have conveyed our opposition to a military intervention against Iran to our interlocutors at every opportunity,” he said.
He said restarting talks between Tehran and Washington over Iran's nuclear program was "vital for reducing regional tensions.”
The Turkish foreign minister said Israel was pushing the US to attack Iran, and urged Washington to "act with common sense and not allow this to happen.”
He added that Iran’s internal issues should be resolved peacefully by the Iranian people without foreign interference.