Tehran: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi denied on Thursday that his country had received any written offer from the United States regarding the ongoing nuclear talks, stressing that Tehran is still awaiting official proposals that may be conveyed through the Omani mediator.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, in a press statement during his visit to the Tehran International Book Fair on Thursday evening, Araqchi said, “So far, we have not received any written document from the Americans. While we have presented some of our positions in writing to the Omani side, we have not received a similar response.”
The Iranian Foreign Minister stressed that his country will not give up its basic nuclear rights, stating, “Uranium enrichment is a sovereign right that is not negotiable. Our facilities will remain in place, and no one will be able to deprive us of this legitimate right.”
Araghchi pointed to what he described as “confusion” in the US discourse regarding the negotiations, explaining that the apparent contradictions may reflect either internal turmoil in the decision-making process or are part of a “deliberate negotiating tactic.”
Regarding the military role, the Iranian official noted that his country’s defense capabilities constitute a leverage factor at the negotiating table, saying, “If Washington were able to destroy our facilities by force, they would not have resorted to negotiations. They are negotiating because they are unable to impose their will militarily.”
Araghchi also considered that indirect negotiations are not a new phenomenon, citing the ongoing negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, adding, “It is not surprising that some countries reject direct dialogue… hence the importance of mediation.”
In contrast, the American news website Axios reported that the Trump administration had presented a written offer to Iran during the fourth round of indirect talks, noting that Araghchi received the document and transferred it to Tehran for review.
However, the Iranian minister’s statements indicate a different official position, reflecting the continued uncertainty surrounding the course of the negotiations and the details of the offers exchanged between the two parties.