Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran

Tehran, Jul 13: Iran remains open to resuming negotiations on its nuclear program, but only under clear guarantees that talks won’t be derailed by military aggression, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday during a briefing with foreign diplomats.

“Iran has always been ready for dialogue and still is,” Araghchi stated, “but we must ensure that negotiations won’t be a prelude to war waged by the United States or its allies.”

His comments come in the aftermath of intense Israel-Iran hostilities, which included targeted airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities. The clashes resulted in the deaths of senior Iranian commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians, according to Tehran. Iran responded with multiple missile and drone strikes on Israeli territory, culminating in a 12-day conflict that ended with a ceasefire on June 24.

Araghchi accused the United States of sabotaging diplomacy by supporting Israel’s offensive and directly attacking Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. He warned that trust must be rebuilt before talks resume.

If negotiations restart, Iran’s nuclear rights—particularly uranium enrichment—must be respected, he stressed. However, Tehran’s military capabilities will remain off the table, and non-negotiable.

Regarding Iran's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Araghchi clarified that Iran has not ceased its collaboration, but has shifted decision-making to the Supreme National Security Council. This follows the July 1 law which suspended traditional oversight mechanisms and routed future IAEA engagements through the council.

“Our cooperation continues—just with new protocols,” he noted.

The remarks highlight Tehran’s conditional openness to diplomacy, while drawing a red line around issues of national sovereignty and security. They also underscore a wider regional tension in the wake of escalating confrontations with Israel and deepening distrust toward the West.