Newsletters
Iran’s foreign minister said Saturday that Tehran has no plans to meet American officials, even as he confirmed receiving a letter from US Vice President JD Vance and described Washington’s outreach as a “positive step,” amid growing concern over a return to war.
Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera there was no need for such a meeting “under current circumstances,” according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA. He dismissed reports of upcoming contacts as “merely media assumption.”
“Currently, there are no plans for meetings with American officials,” Araghchi said, adding that any speculation to the contrary was unfounded.
He said Iran’s conditions “are clear” and that consultations over them are continuing among mediators. He did not say who the mediators are or what the conditions include.
Araghchi confirmed that Iran received a message from Vance after days of diplomatic efforts aimed at averting a resumption of violence. He said it had been “carefully reviewed and discussed in high-level meetings.” He did not disclose its contents.
His response was double-edged. If Washington sent the message to “sow discord,” he said, it would be “yet another misstep, adding to America’s previous errors.” He also said Iran viewed the American effort “to open a dialogue and reach a broader understanding” as a positive step.
Vance has been involved in earlier contacts with Iran. In April, he traveled to Pakistan to lead talks with Iranian officials while a ceasefire in the war was described as shaky, and he later said those talks had not produced an agreement.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
1 min read
