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Iran’s Refusal to Negotiate with U.S. a Tactic, Not a Strategy: Foreign Minister
3/24/2025
ERBIL –
Iran’s refusal to engage in direct negotiations with the United States is a tactical decision rather than a long-term strategy, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in an interview published by Iran’s state-owned Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) on Sunday.
Araqchi clarified that Tehran has not ruled out direct talks with Washington indefinitely but has chosen, for now, to communicate through indirect negotiations with the three European signatories of the 2015 nuclear deal—France, Germany, and Britain.
“To say that, as a strategy, we will not negotiate… that’s not how it is. We have negotiated many times [before], including very recently. Our ongoing talks with the three European countries are, in fact, something of an indirect negotiation over our nuclear program,” Araqchi said in an interview with Khabaronline.ir.
A Response to U.S. Pressure
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, has repeatedly opposed direct negotiations under U.S. “maximum pressure” policies, citing a lack of trust in Washington’s commitment to agreements. Araqchi echoed this sentiment, arguing that engaging in direct dialogue while sanctions remain in full force would be unwise.
“In circumstances where there is ‘maximum pressure,’ no one in their sound mind would enter into direct talks,” he stated.
His comments come in response to renewed U.S. pressure under President Donald Trump, who signed a presidential memo on February 4 to restore strict sanctions against Iran. Trump later sent a diplomatic overture via an emissary from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in March, reportedly proposing a new round of negotiations. However, Tehran remains skeptical of Washington’s intentions.
JCPOA No Longer Viable in Its Current Form
Araqchi, a key negotiator of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), suggested that the original nuclear deal is no longer a realistic framework for negotiations. He pointed to both Iran’s advances in nuclear technology and the extensive U.S. sanctions imposed since Washington’s unilateral withdrawal from the agreement in 2018.
“The JCPOA, in its current form, cannot be revived in my opinion,” he said. “Our nuclear status has by far advanced, and we can no more return to the JCPOA conditions. So have the sanctions by the other party. They have set many new sanctions, and the conditions have changed.”
While he dismissed the notion of simply reinstating the old deal, Araqchi indicated that the JCPOA could serve as a reference model for any future agreements, provided that mutual trust and equitable conditions are established.
“Our nuclear program is entirely peaceful; we ourselves trust that. We are ready to raise others’ trust, to agree to certain restrictions on our stockpiles and enrichment purity levels for five or ten years, as we did under the JCPOA,” he explained.
Iran’s calculated stance on negotiations reflects broader geopolitical shifts in the Middle East and beyond. While Tehran continues to engage diplomatically with European powers and strengthen ties with non-Western partners like China and Russia, its reluctance to directly negotiate with the U.S. has contributed to prolonged tensions. Washington, meanwhile, has sought to reestablish leverage in the region by rallying its allies and maintaining a firm stance on Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
U.S. policymakers argue that Iran’s actions require a robust and principled response to prevent further regional destabilization. The ongoing diplomatic deadlock suggests that while indirect talks may continue, a significant breakthrough in U.S.-Iran relations will depend largely on Iran’s willingness to engage constructively and demonstrate a genuine commitment to de-escalation.