Tehran (TDI): Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Tuesday stated that negotiations with the United States are no longer under consideration, as the war between Tehran, Washington, and Israel enters its 11th day.
Speaking to PBS News, Araghchi described past negotiations with the US as a “very bitter experience,” signaling that Iran is unlikely to resume talks anytime soon.
The current hostilities began on February 28 when the Us and Israel carried out strikes that killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The attacks came just days before a scheduled round of US-Iran talks mediated by Oman, which had previously reported “significant progress” in negotiations.
Since then, Iran has launched drone and missile attacks targeting both US and Israeli interests across the region. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for nearly 20% of the world’s oil, has been severely disrupted due to repeated Iranian attacks on passing oil tankers.
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Araghchi emphasized that Iran is acting in self-defense, saying, “We are prepared to continue attacking with our missiles as long as necessary.”
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi added that several countries, including China, Russia, and France, as well as some regional actors, have contacted Iran to encourage a ceasefire. French President Emmanuel Macron has indicated that France and its allies are preparing a “defensive” mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
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Gharibabadi stressed that Iran did not initiate the conflict and is merely defending itself, reiterating Tehran’s commitment to continue missile strikes “as long as it takes.
