ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday ruled out the possibility of resuming nuclear talks with the US, just a day after President Donald Trump announced that both sides would meet again next week.
“No agreement has been made to restart negotiations, and there has not even been talk of negotiations. There is no point in negotiating now,” Araghchi said in a televised interview with Iranian media.
This contradicts Trump's latest remark on the talks.
"We're going to talk to them next week, with Iran. We may sign an agreement. I don't know. To me, I don't think it's that necessary," the US president said on Wednesday.
Tensions between US ally, Israel, and arch-foe, Iran, escalated on June 13 when Israel carried out numerous airstrikes against Iran’s nuclear and military sites, killing several commanders and military scientists. Trump brokered a ceasefire between both countries on Tuesday. The truce seems to be holding so far.
Before the escalation, the US and Iran were engaged in talks about the future of Iran’s nuclear program. Tehran has repeatedly accused Washington of betraying diplomacy.
Araghchi noted that, unlike before June 13, talks on Iran’s nuclear program are complicated now.
“Previously, the Iranian nuclear issue was on the path to a peaceful solution; but now, with the outbreak of war and the shedding of human blood, the situation has completely changed, and it is not possible to reach an agreement on it as easily as in the past,” he stressed.
“The US mistake not only did not help resolve the nuclear issue, but also made it much more complicated and difficult,” he added.
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