Iran to negotiate with US if sanctions lifted: FM
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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iran's foreign minister on Saturday expressed Tehran's willingness to pursue nuclear talks with the United States in exchange for the lifting of what he called oppressive sanctions against his country.
'We are willing to pursue dialogue on our nuclear program and the lifting of sanctions, based on the logic of trust-building in exchange for the lifting of oppressive sanctions against Iran,' Abbas Araghchi told diplomats in Tehran, as reported by the semi-official Tasnim news agency.
US President Donald Trump is pressuring Tehran to negotiate a new nuclear deal. He made an overture in a letter to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei last month, signaling openness to nuclear negotiations, but also threatened military action if Iran refuses to cooperate.
'In principle, direct negotiations with a party that constantly threatens to resort to force in violation of the UN Charter and that expresses contradictory positions by its various officials would be pointless, but we remain committed to diplomacy and are willing to try the path of indirect negotiations,' Araghchi said.
Earlier on Saturday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also blamed the United States for contradictions in its approach to negotiations and criticized threats from Washington.
'Iran's response to the US President's letter was tailored to the content and tone of his letter, while at the same time preserving the opportunity to use diplomacy,' Araghchi added.
In his letter, Trump signaled openness to new nuclear negotiations but warned of possible military action if Iran refused to cooperate. Later in March, he threatened to bomb Iranian interests if it avoided talks.
On Monday, a top aide to Khamenei, Ali Larijani, warned that his country will have 'no choice' but to develop nuclear weapons if it comes under 'any attack' by the United States or Israel.
Under a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, Iran agreed to curb its nuclear enrichment program in exchange for much-needed relief from crippling sanctions. The deal began unraveling in 2018 when Trump, during his first term, unilaterally withdrew the US from the accord and reimposed biting sanctions on Iran.
Tehran waited a year and then gradually ramped up its nuclear activities.
After returning to office, Trump in early February restored his maximum pressure policy on Tehran, arguing that it is 'too close' to a nuclear weapon.
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