UPDATE - Iran has no plans for talks with US officials: Foreign minister
- Tehran reviewing message from US Vice President Vance to senior Iranian security official, says Abbas Araghchi
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- Tehran reviewing message from US Vice President Vance to senior Iranian security official, says Abbas Araghchi
UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS, REVISES DECK
By Tolga Akbaba, Ahmet Kartal, and Rania Abushamala
ISTANBUL (AA) – Iran’s foreign minister said Saturday that Tehran has no plans to hold talks with US officials, dismissing reports suggesting otherwise as unfounded.
Abbas Araghchi said Iran had carefully examined a message sent by US Vice President JD Vance to senior Iranian security official Mohsen Rezaei and that the matter remains under review by the relevant authorities, according to the official Iranian news agency IRNA.
He stressed that no talks with US officials are planned and that claims to the contrary do not reflect the truth.
He added that Iran currently sees no need for talks with the US and that its conditions are clear, noting that contacts continue with Qatar and Pakistan as mediators.
He stressed that a decision on whether negotiations would be direct or indirect would come after the US agrees to Iran’s conditions.
Araghchi said Vance’s message, along with US efforts to open dialogue and reach a broader understanding, could be considered a positive step.
On the proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if Iran’s seven conditions are accepted, Araghchi said: “The Qatari side had requested that the time needed to implement our proposal be reduced to five days. At this stage, a proposal to shorten that period to two days is under discussion.”
-Iran not ruling out war
Araghchi said his country does not rule out the possibility of war, stressing its readiness for all scenarios.
He explained that reopening the Strait of Hormuz is conditional on accepting a new transit route designated by Iran and Oman and closing alternative routes.
He also said his country is demanding that the United States reinstate the waiver concerning Iranian oil sales and release all frozen Iranian assets, including those held in Qatar.
The Wall Street Journal, citing US officials, previously reported that Vance had sent a message to Rezaei at President Donald Trump’s direction to revive peace talks.
Trump denied the report, saying Vance’s role was limited to helping provide medical supplies needed by Iran.
Araghchi’s remarks come amid mediation efforts led by Qatar and Pakistan to revive negotiations between Washington and Tehran, with reports of progress in indirect talks in Doha.
The efforts seek understandings on Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions, and navigation security in the Strait of Hormuz.
The US and Israel began attacks on Iran on Feb. 28. Tehran retaliated by targeting Israel and US assets in the region before a ceasefire agreement was reached in April.
In June, Washington and Tehran signed a framework agreement on freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, but its implementation stalled over disagreements concerning security in the strait.
Rania R.a. Abushamala