Iran's Foreign Minister: 'No Plans to Meet the U.S.... Reports of Talks Are Media Speculation'

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on the 31st, in an interview with Al Jazeera, that he has no plans to meet with the U.S. side. Dismissing talk circulating about a possible summit, he drew a clear line, calling it "simply media speculation," and said, "Our conditions are clear, and the mediators continue to consult on them." Araghchi also stressed that Iran's demands must be met. He explained that whether direct or indirect talks take place hinges on whether Iran's conditions are satisfied.

Araghchi said he had recently reviewed a letter that U.S. Vice President JD Vance reportedly sent to Iranian hardliners. While assessing that "the U.S. side's efforts to further broaden dialogue and understanding are positive," he pointed out that if the United States sent the letter with the aim of sowing discord, it "would amount to adding another mistake on top of the ones already made."

Iran's delegation continues discussions alongside Pakistan in Qatar as it holds talks with the mediating countries. The key sticking point is the implementation period of the "seven-day plan" that Iran proposed to the United States and that U.S. President Donald Trump rejected. Araghchi said, "Qatar proposed shortening the implementation period of our proposal to five days, and we are now focused on reducing the implementation period to two days."

Iran's conditions are specific. They include the lifting of sanctions imposed after the Islamabad memorandum of understanding (MOU) and a reduction of U.S. troop levels in the region, as well as demands for the restoration of oil sanction waivers and the release of all frozen funds, including those held in Qatar. Araghchi emphasized, "Reopening the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with our conditions would open the way for resuming negotiations with the United States over unresolved issues."

Araghchi did not rule out the possibility of war. He said, "We do not rule out the possibility of war breaking out, and we are prepared for all scenarios." While acknowledging the economic pressure caused by U.S. sanctions, he added, "We will never surrender," and "We will continue to stand firm and resist." With Iran making the fulfillment of its conditions a prerequisite for resuming negotiations, relations between the two countries remain in a state of conditional standoff.