Iran is prepared for both war and negotiations but will not accept imposed terms, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said amid continued Washington’s military threats against Tehran.
“Iran is ready to enter nuclear negotiations if they are conducted from an equal position, based on mutual interests and mutual respect,” Araghchi said on Friday in a joint press conference with this Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Ankara.
“If the negotiations are fair and just, Iran is ready to participate in these talks and negotiations.” He added: “We will by no means accept dictation and imposition.”
📸 Foreign ministers of #Iran and #Turkey hold meeting in Istanbul pic.twitter.com/37Ihr053E7
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Araghchi described his discussions with Fidan as “good and useful,” noting the longstanding neighborly friendship between the two nations who have stood by each other “in both easy and difficult days.” He expressed Iran’s support for “any initiative that leads to peace and stability in the region, reduces tensions, and neutralizes the sinister plots of Israel,” and welcomed Turkey’s approach to regional dialogue.
On the potential for talks with the United States, Araghchi confirmed that Washington 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.” He clarified that no meeting with U.S. officials is currently arranged, stressing that preliminary details on format and venue must be agreed upon first. “Iran has never abandoned diplomacy and will never abandon it,” he affirmed.
Alongside this openness, Araghchi issued a stark warning: “We have said many times, and I repeat once again: Iran, just as it is ready for negotiations, is also ready for war.” He cautioned that any future conflict, particularly with direct U.S. involvement, could “expand beyond a bilateral war,” adding, “I hope rationality prevails.”
Non-Negotiable Defense & Regional Alignments
Araghchi firmly stated that Iran’s defensive capabilities are off the table. “Iran’s defensive capability and missiles will never be the subject of any negotiation,” he declared. He and Fidan agreed that regional developments are moving dangerously due to “illegitimate interventions by some extra-regional powers,” accusing Israel of pursuing “sinister plots” to destabilize the region.
Turkish Stance: Opposition to Military Action
Echoing the call for diplomacy, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan 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, warning that Israel’s efforts to persuade the U.S. to attack “have the potential to cause great harm to our region’s fragile stability.” He described the restart of nuclear talks as “vital” to reducing tensions.
The officials’ remarks come amid heightened rhetoric from Washington, including recent U.S. naval deployments to the region and threats of military strikes. Iran has consistently warned that any attack will be met with a swift and decisive response, maintaining that diplomacy cannot succeed under coercion.