WANA (Mar 28) – British Foreign Secretary David Lammy held a phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, on Thursday night to discuss bilateral relations and regional and international developments, including Iran’s nuclear program. He stated Iran’s commitment to peaceful nuclear engagement but dismissed direct negotiations under “maximum pressure” and military threats as meaningless.

 

During the call, Lammy extended his Nowruz and New Year greetings to Araghchi and reaffirmed the UK and other European nations’ commitment to pursuing a diplomatic solution to Iran’s nuclear issue. He stated that he would soon engage in further discussions with his European and American counterparts on the matter.

 

Araghchi, for his part, expressed disappointment over what he described as unconstructive actions and positions taken by European countries and the EU, including continued sanctions against Iran under what he called “baseless pretexts.” He urged the three European nations involved in nuclear negotiations to reconsider their approach toward Iran and West Asia’s regional issues.

 

Referring to the four rounds of talks between Iranian and European representatives, Araghchi underscored Iran’s commitment to peaceful nuclear engagement but dismissed direct negotiations under “maximum pressure” and military threats as meaningless. Nonetheless, he emphasized Tehran’s readiness for diplomatic engagement.

 

He also criticized contradictory remarks from U.S. officials regarding talks with Iran, condemning the use of diplomacy as a political and psychological pressure tool. Araghchi noted that Iran had responded to the U.S. President’s letter through appropriate diplomatic channels in a responsible manner, adhering to international diplomatic norms.

 

Both foreign ministers welcomed the appointment of new ambassadors in London and Tehran, expressing hope that this step would contribute to smoother bilateral relations.

 

The two sides also addressed consular issues, openly exchanging views and concerns while stressing the importance of maintaining communication channels between Tehran and London for more effective follow-ups on mutual and international matters.