Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi Rejects US Diplomatic Talks Following Airstrikes
Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Aragchi, has ruled out the possibility of diplomatic talks with the United States in the wake of recent US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. In a press conference in Istanbul on Sunday, Aragchi stated that while the door for diplomacy should always remain open, the current circumstances do not warrant it.
“We have been attacked and we must respond on the basis of our legitimate right to self-defense and we will do so as long as it is necessary and required” Aragchi said. He emphasized that diplomatic talks are “irrelevant” given that Israel and the United States had previously attacked Iran during such talks. Aragchi also accused the US of having no “red line” it would not cross.
The foreign minister announced that he would be traveling to Moscow on the same day to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, describing Moscow as a “friend of Iran.” “We always consult with each other” he added.
Following the US airstrikes, US President Donald Trump called on the Iranian leadership to prepare for peace, warning that there would be “more targets” if a peaceful resolution was not achieved. Meanwhile, the European Union and Germany have called for diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged Iran to focus on a credible diplomatic solution, stating that the negotiating table was the only way to end the crisis. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, of the Christian Democratic Union, called on Iran to immediately start talks with the US and Israel and work towards a diplomatic solution to the conflict.