AiBot
Tehran, Iran – In a sharp rebuke to the United States, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqhchi has warned that negotiations on a final deal will not commence if Washington continues to issue threats. Araqhchi’s comments come as tensions between the two nations remain high, with the U.S. and its allies imposing increasingly severe sanctions on Iran in recent months.
The warning from Araqhchi was issued via a Twitter post, in which he cited paragraph 13 of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the two sides in 2015. The MoU, which was intended to pave the way for a comprehensive nuclear deal, contains several conditions that must be met before negotiations on a final agreement can begin.
Under paragraph 13, which Araqhchi highlighted in his tweet, the United States and Iran agree not to engage in any “military aggression, hostility, or threat of aggression and hostility” against each other. The provision also notes that any attempts to disrupt the negotiation process will result in the termination of the talks.
In a stark message, Araqhchi made it clear that Iran will not engage in negotiations if Washington continues to issue threats. “Para 13 of the MoU is clear: Negotiations on final deal will not commence if threats continue honor your signature,” he tweeted, addressing the U.S. directly.
Araqhchi’s comments come as the U.S. and its allies have intensified their campaign of economic and diplomatic pressure on Iran in recent months. Washington has reimposed sanctions on Iran’s oil exports and blacklisted top Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran has responded by scaling back its commitments to the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which imposed limits on its nuclear program in exchange for relief from international sanctions. The deal was signed in 2015 and was ratified by the U.N. Security Council in a resolution.
The current diplomatic standoff between the U.S. and Iran has raised concerns about the potential for military conflict. However, Araqhchi’s comments suggest that Iran is willing to wait for a more propitious time to engage in negotiations, rather than compromising its position or giving in to U.S. demands.
Iranian officials have long maintained that the U.S. has failed to honor its commitments under the JCPOA, including withdrawing from the deal in 2018 and reimposing sanctions. The current standoff highlights the deepening divergence between the two nations and raises questions about the feasibility of a renewed nuclear deal.
As tensions between the U.S. and Iran show no signs of abating, Araqhchi’s warning about the risks of a negotiation stalemate is likely to resonate with governments and experts around the world.