Iran Rejects U.S. Talks Amid Renewed Sanctions and Nuclear Deal Tensions

Tehran, March 23 – Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated on Sunday that negotiations with the United States are impossible unless Washington changes its pressure policy. The remarks come as Iran prepares to respond to U.S. President Donald Trump’s letter proposing talks on a new nuclear deal.
Earlier this month, President Trump sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warning that Iran faces two options: military action or a negotiated agreement. Khamenei dismissed the offer as “a deception,” asserting that talks with the Trump administration would only exacerbate sanctions and pressure on Iran.
While Araqchi acknowledged that Tehran would soon address both the “threats and opportunities” in Trump’s letter, he emphasized that the current U.S. approach leaves no room for dialogue. “When we say no to negotiations with the U.S., it stems from a history and experience,” Araqchi said, referencing Trump’s withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear pact during his first term.
Since abandoning the agreement in 2018, the Trump administration has reinstated its “maximum pressure” campaign, including efforts to reduce Iran’s oil exports to zero. Four rounds of sanctions on Iranian oil sales have been imposed since Trump’s return to the White House. These measures have severely impacted Iran’s economy, prompting Tehran to breach the pact’s nuclear restrictions and advance its enrichment of uranium beyond agreed limits.
Araqchi expressed skepticism about reviving the 2015 nuclear deal in its current form, citing Iran’s significant advancements in its nuclear program. However, he suggested the pact could serve as a “basis and model for negotiations.”
The U.N. nuclear watchdog chief, Rafael Grossi, recently warned that time is running out to reach an agreement to curb Iran’s nuclear activities, as Tehran accelerates uranium enrichment to near weapons-grade levels. Iran maintains that its nuclear program is intended solely for peaceful purposes.
The escalating tensions highlight the challenges of finding common ground between Tehran and Washington, as both sides grapple with the legacy of past agreements and the prospect of future negotiations.