WANA (Jan 28) – Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday that there has been no contact between him and Steve Witkoff, the US president’s special representative, in recent days, and that Iran has not requested negotiations.

 

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting, Araghchi said, “There has been no contact between me and Witkoff in the past few days, and we have not made any request for negotiations.”

 

He added that while various intermediaries and countries are in contact and attempting in good faith to play a role, no decision has been made and no request has been submitted from Iran’s side.

 

Threats and Overreach Must Be Abandoned

Commenting on the US approach, which he said speaks of negotiations while also carrying out military movements and deployments in the region, Araghchi said that military action and diplomacy have always existed in international affairs, but each follows its own path.

 

“Our position is that diplomacy conducted through military threats cannot be effective or beneficial,” he said.

 

He added that if negotiations are to take place, the United States must abandon threats, overreach, and unrealistic demands. “Negotiations have their own principles; they must be based on equality, mutual respect, and mutual interests,” he said.

 

Araghchi warned that if a party seeks to achieve its goals unilaterally through force, “this is certainly not diplomacy.”

 

Negotiations Cannot Be Conducted Under Threat

In response to another question, the foreign minister said Iran’s position is clear: “Negotiations cannot take place under threats, and talks should happen only when threats and overreach are abandoned.”

 

Araghchi also said that consultations with regional countries continue regularly. “Their ambassadors in Tehran are in direct contact with the Foreign Ministry, and I am also in contact with foreign ministers. Last night I spoke with the foreign minister of Qatar.”

 

He added that there is a shared understanding in the region that a military threat would destabilise the entire region, especially given the nature of the US presence there.

 

“This common understanding exists across the region,” he said. “The region is completely opposed to military threats, and everyone believes instability will lead to major challenges for the region, so regional countries oppose this.”

 

No Plans to Meet Grossi

When asked about meeting with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, Araghchi said there are currently no plans for such a meeting.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi meets with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi in Tehran, Iran, April 16, 2025. Iranian Foreign Ministry/WANA (West Asia News Agency)