Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that he did not believe that diplomatic negotiations with the US could begin as quickly as US President Donald Trump has signaled.
In a Monday interview with CBS, Araghchi disputed Trump’s assertions that diplomatic talks could start as soon as this week.
"I don't think negotiations will restart as quickly as that," he told CBS through a translator.
“In order for us to decide to reengage, we will have to first ensure that America will not revert to targeting us in a military attack during the negotiations. I think with all these considerations, we still need more time."
However, he said that “the doors of diplomacy will never slam shut."
Trump told Iranian deputy FM he wanted to return to negotiating table
Trump reportedly told Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi through mediators that the US wanted to return to the negotiating table this week but that they needed clarification on whether attacks would happen or not while they took place.
“Majid Takht-Ravanchi said the Trump administration told Iran through mediators that it wanted to return to negotiations this week, but had not made its position clear on the ‘very important question’ of further attacks while talks are taking place,” the BBC reported.
Trump and other world leaders claim that Operation Midnight Hammer decimated Iran’s key nuclear facilities. However, Araghchi implied that Tehran would rebuild its nuclear infrastructure after the hits.
“One cannot obliterate the technology and science for enrichment through bombings,” he said. “If there is this will on our part, and the will exists in order to once again make progress in this industry, we will be able to expeditiously repair the damages and make up for the lost time.”
He also said that the Iranian people “will not easily back down from enrichment.”