Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran

Tehran, May 16: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday said Tehran has received fresh signals from the United States indicating a willingness to continue diplomatic engagement despite recent tensions and public exchanges between the two countries.

Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi during the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Araghchi said communication channels between Washington and Tehran remain active even after disagreements over ceasefire proposals and negotiations surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme.

Referring to recent developments, Araghchi said earlier reports about Iran or the United States rejecting proposals were linked to comments made by US President Donald Trump a few days ago.

“What was said about the United States rejecting Iran’s proposal, or Iran rejecting the American proposal, relates to a few days ago, when Mr Trump tweeted that it was unacceptable,” Araghchi told reporters.

He added that after those remarks, Iran received further messages from Washington expressing interest in keeping negotiations alive.

“But after that, we received messages again from the Americans saying they are willing to continue the talks and maintain engagement,” he said.

Trump had earlier sharply criticised Tehran’s response to a US-backed proposal aimed at ending hostilities before broader discussions on contentious issues, including Iran’s nuclear programme.

Dismissing Iran’s position, Trump reportedly described the communication as a “piece of garbage” and claimed the ceasefire established on April 8 was weak and unstable.

Despite the diplomatic outreach, Araghchi made it clear that Tehran remains deeply sceptical of Washington’s intentions.

He accused the United States of turning towards diplomacy only after failing to achieve strategic goals through military action during the recent conflict.

“Now, after 40 days of war, when the US became hopeless of achieving any goal in their aggression against Iran, they offered negotiation,” Araghchi said.

He further stated that Iran had strong reasons to distrust the United States, while insisting that Tehran itself had given Washington no reason for suspicion.

“We have no trust in Americans. This is the main obstacle in the way of any diplomatic effort. We have every reason not to trust Americans, while they have no reason not to trust us,” he added.

Describing the current ceasefire as “very shaky,” the Iranian foreign minister said Tehran was nevertheless attempting to preserve calm in order to create room for diplomacy.

“We are now in a state of ceasefire, although it’s very shaky. But we are trying to keep it to give diplomacy a chance,” he said.
Araghchi also reiterated that Iran would not yield to pressure, sanctions or military threats.

“There is no military solution to anything related to Iran. They have tested us time and again. We never bow to any pressure or threat. We also resist against any sanction. Iranian people only answer to the language of respect,” he stated.

The current Middle East conflict began after joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. Later, high-level discussions between the two sides were held in Islamabad, Pakistan, on April 11 and 12, though the talks ended without a major breakthrough.