Iran is wary of talks

Tehran (dpa) — Iran has not yet made a decision on negotiations with the United States, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said.

Speaking to Arab broadcaster Al Jazeera on Tuesday, Araghchi said his country had reservations. “We do not have any faith that negotiations with the US will yield any results. The trust level is at zero,” the top diplomat said, adding: “We don’t see honesty.”

Iran would also accept only a complete cessation of hostilities in the region, not a ceasefire limited solely to Iran, Araghchi said. By this, he also meant attacks on groups allied with Iran such as Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia.

The foreign minister also spoke for the first time about communication with the US government. He said he was in contact with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. Messages were transmitted or received via Iran’s Foreign Ministry.

Iran is wary of talks

“I receive messages from Witkoff directly, as before, and this does not mean that we are in negotiations,” he told Al Jazeera.

According to Araghchi, the leadership in Tehran has neither responded to the 15 US proposals nor formulated its own proposals or conditions.

The US and Israel have been attacking Iran since February 28, while Iran is carrying out retaliatory strikes against Israel and countries in the region that have a US military presence.