Iran has expressed willingness to negotiate with the United States but insists that discussions cannot take place under the “maximum pressure” strategy previously employed by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Speaking on Saturday, February 8, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that while lifting sanctions requires negotiations, they must be conducted on equal terms.
“Negotiations cannot happen under a ‘maximum pressure’ framework, as that would not be a negotiation but a form of surrender,” Araghchi said in a statement published on Telegram.
His remarks follow warnings from Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who advised against engaging in talks with Washington, describing them as “reckless.” Khamenei cited past experiences as evidence that negotiating with the U.S. has not yielded favorable outcomes for Iran.
Iran previously signed a landmark nuclear deal in 2015 with the U.S., France, Germany, Britain, China, and Russia, which lifted international sanctions in exchange for limits on its nuclear program. However, in 2018, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the agreement and reinstated sanctions—a move that drew criticism from European allies.
Despite recent calls from Trump for a “verified nuclear peace agreement,” the U.S. has continued its pressure campaign. Just last week, Washington imposed new financial sanctions on individuals and entities allegedly involved in shipping Iranian crude oil to China.
Araghchi condemned these mixed signals from the U.S., stating:
“Iran will not negotiate with a country that is simultaneously imposing new sanctions.”
Tehran maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes and denies any intention to develop nuclear weapons.
