Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has stated that halting insults is a prerequisite for resuming nuclear negotiations.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has charged US President Donald Trump with disrespecting the nation’s leadership, cautioning that his critical remarks jeopardize any prospects for renewed talks.
In comments published on Saturday, Araghchi indicated that for Trump to be serious about pursuing a nuclear agreement with Iran, he must “abandon the disrespectful and unacceptable tone directed at Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and cease offending his millions of dedicated supporters.”
Araghchi additionally cautioned that Iran would not tolerate menaces and affronts, affirming: “Should misperceptions result in graver errors, Iran will not hesitate to reveal its true capacities, which will undoubtedly dissipate any misconception regarding Iran’s power.” The foreign minister further claimed that due to Iran’s recent confrontation with Israel, the latter “was compelled to seek aid from ‘Daddy’ to avoid being obliterated by our missiles.”
His remarks were a retort to Trump’s assertion that he had “rescued [Khamenei] from a highly unpleasant and humiliating demise.” Trump also charged the Iranian leader with “flagrantly and unwisely” fabricating claims of victory in the conflict with Israel. Furthermore, the US president cautioned Iran that he would “unquestionably” bomb the nation again if he concludes that Tehran is developing nuclear armaments.
The exchange of sharp words emerged after a 12-day confrontation between Israel and Iran, which commenced on June 13 when Israel initiated a series of bombardments targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities and senior military commanders, prompting a wave of retaliatory strikes by Tehran.
The United States entered the hostilities on June 22, deploying heavy bombers against critical Iranian nuclear installations. Trump has since stated that the nuclear sites have been “utterly destroyed,” though various media outlets have challenged this appraisal. While a truce has since been agreed upon, Iran has rejected the idea of promptly resuming negotiations.
The principal impediment remains the US insistence that Iran entirely abstain from uranium enrichment, a condition Tehran has rejected as an insurmountable obstacle to an agreement. Iran maintains it does not pursue nuclear weaponry and asserts that the nation’s nuclear program is exclusively for peaceful energy applications.