Iranian FM: The 2015 nuclear pact could still serve as a basis for negotiations
Talks with the U.S. are impossible unless Washington changes its pressure policy, the Iranian foreign minister said on Sunday, as Iran prepares to respond to President Donald Trump’s letter proposing negotiations on a new nuclear deal.
Trump said earlier this month that he had sent the letter to Iran’s top authority, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warning that “there are two ways Iran can be handled: militarily, or you make a deal”.
Since his return to the White House, the U.S. has issued four rounds of sanctions on Iran’s oil sales.
“Under these conditions, it is no longer possible to enter into talks with America. Unless certain approaches change,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi was quoted as saying by Iranian state media.
“When we say no to negotiations with the U.S., it stems from a history and experience,” he said, referring to Trump’s withdrawal from Tehran’s 2015 nuclear pact with six major powers in his first term.
“In my opinion, the 2015 pact in its current form cannot be revived. It would not be in our interest because our nuclear situation has advanced significantly and we can no longer return to previous conditions,” Araqchi said, adding that the 2015 pact could still be “a basis and model for negotiations”.
