Iran has expressed willingness to negotiate with the United States but firmly rejected any discussions under the “maximum pressure” approach championed by US President Donald Trump.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made this clear in a statement published on Telegram on Saturday, emphasizing that diplomacy cannot take place under coercion.
“The lifting of sanctions requires negotiations, but not within the framework of a ‘maximum pressure’ policy, because it would not be a negotiation but a form of surrender,” Araghchi stated.
His remarks came shortly after Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned the government against engaging in talks with Washington, calling such efforts “reckless.”
Khamenei, who holds ultimate authority over Iran’s strategic decisions, pointed to past experiences to justify his stance.
In 2015, Iran reached a historic nuclear agreement with six world powers—the United States, France, Germany, Britain, China, and Russia—which imposed strict limits on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
However, in 2018, Trump unilaterally withdrew from the deal, reinstating severe economic sanctions despite objections from European allies.
Trump has continued to advocate for a tougher stance on Iran. On Wednesday, he called for a “verified nuclear peace agreement”, reiterating that Iran “cannot have a nuclear weapon.” Tehran, however, insists that its nuclear program is purely for peaceful purposes, dismissing accusations of pursuing atomic weapons.
Meanwhile, the US government ramped up its maximum pressure campaign yet again, imposing new financial sanctions on Thursday. These sanctions target individuals and entities accused of exporting Iranian crude oil to China, further straining US-Iran relations.
In response, Araghchi reaffirmed Iran’s position, stating that Tehran will not negotiate with a country that is simultaneously imposing fresh sanctions.