- Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, confirmed that negotiations with the United States are no longer on Tehran’s agenda, citing a “very bitter experience” during previous talks
- Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, revealed that countries including China, Russia, France, and some regional nations have reached out to push for a ceasefire
- However, Iran maintained that it did not initiate the war and that ongoing attacks are acts of self-defense, with missiles to continue “as long as needed”
Iran has said negotiations with the United States are no longer under consideration as the ongoing war in the Middle East entered its 11th day on Tuesday, March 10.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, stated that dialogue with Washington was not currently being considered, citing previous experiences with US negotiations.
“I don’t think talking with the Americans would be on our agenda anymore,” Araghchi told PBS News, adding that Tehran had a “very bitter experience” during past talks with the US.
The conflict began after the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iran on February 28, killing Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, and sparking a regional war that has since spread across parts of the Middle East.
The strikes occurred just two days before Washington and Tehran were scheduled to hold another round of talks.
The meeting was expected to follow three previous rounds of negotiations, during which mediators from Oman said there had been “significant progress.”
In response to the attacks, Iran has carried out multiple drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and US-linked interests across the region.
The conflict has also disrupted shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime route through which nearly 20 percent of the world’s crude oil supply normally passes.
Iranian forces have repeatedly targeted oil tankers transiting the waterway since the fighting began, raising concerns about global energy supplies.
Araghchi defended Iran’s actions during the interview, describing them as necessary retaliation.
“We are prepared, we have been prepared to continue attacking them with our missiles as long as needed and as long as it takes,” he said.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, said several countries had begun diplomatic outreach aimed at ending the conflict.
“China, Russia and France, and even some countries in the region, are in contact with us,” he told state television on Monday, March 9.
“Some of them are willing to do something to stop this war or establish a ceasefire.”
France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, also said Paris and its allies were preparing a “defensive” mission aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping.
However, Gharibabadi maintained that Iran was not responsible for starting the conflict.
“Iran did not start the aggression and the war… we are defending ourselves,” he said.