Iran says talks won't start until attacks stop, calls US and Israel 'partners in crime'

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi revealed that Tehran has received multiple requests from the United States for negotiations. However, he firmly rejected the overtures, stating that Washington’s complicity in Israeli aggression makes meaningful dialogue impossible.

Amidst the conflict between Israel and Iran, Araghchi made it clear that Iran would not “talk with anyone” as long as the Israeli attacks continued. 

“We have no negotiations with anyone about our missile programme,” Araghchi said in a televised interview. “No rational mind would accept entering talks over its defence capabilities.”

Noting the meeting schedule in Geneva, he said Iran’s talks with its European allies will continue, and currently, it is set to hold talks with the UK, France, and Germany. 

Moreover, state news agency IRNA reported that Iran’s bigwigs would also meet the European Union’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas in Geneva. 

Read: "No Idea what my thoughts are": Trump rubbishes WSJ report on Iran attack plans

He stressed that Iran’s missile programme is “unique, defensive in nature, and highly accurate,” asserting that Iranian strikes are carried out in strict compliance with both ethical principles and international laws.

“Our armed forces target only military and economic centres, never residential areas, hospitals, or civilian buildings,” he said.

The statement came after Trump claimed that Iranian officials had made contact to request a meeting and proposed a visit to the White House. 

When he was asked on Wednesday about the possibility of attacking Iran’s nuclear sites, President Trump gave a cryptic response, “I can’t say whether the United States will attack Iran’s nuclear facilities or not. We’ll see what happens. I may do it, I may not do it.”

The hostilities broke out last Friday after Israel launched airstrikes on multiple sides, including military and nuclear facilities and residential areas of Iran.

Iran has reported at least 224 deaths from Israeli attacks, while Iranian attacks on Israel have killed 24 people.