Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday he hoped talks with the United States (US) would resume soon, while reiterating Tehran’s red lines and warning against any American attack.
According to excerpts published on his official Telegram channel during an interview with the Al Jazeera network, Araghchi said Iran’s missile programme was “never negotiable” in Friday’s talks in Oman.
He warned that Tehran would target US bases in the region if the US attacked Iranian territory.
However, Araghchi also said despite the talks in Muscat being indirect, “an opportunity arose to shake hands with the American delegation”.
He called the talks “a good start”, but added that building trust would take time. He said the talks would resume “soon”.
US president Donald Trump on Friday called the talks “very good”, and pledged another round of negotiations next week.
Despite this, he signed an executive order effective from Saturday that called for the “imposition of tariffs” on countries still doing business with Iran.
The United States also announced new sanctions against numerous shipping entities and vessels, aimed at curbing Iran’s oil exports.
More than a quarter of Iran’s trade is with China, with US$18 billion in imports and US$14.5 billion in exports in 2024, according to World Trade Organisation data.
Araghchi told Al Jazeera that nuclear enrichment was Iran’s “inalienable right and must continue”.
– Via Nampa
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