Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi: There are currently no negotiations between Washington and Tehran — only an exchange of messages

Below are key points from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's interview with Al Jazeera in Tehran.

- Regarding the negotiations, the American narrative is that they are ongoing, and Iran has allegedly accepted the United States' terms. What is Tehran's position?

- Negotiations are a process in which two countries meet face-to-face to reach an agreement. Currently, this is not happening between us and the United States. We are merely exchanging messages — directly or through our friends in the region. We respond to these messages when necessary. These messages may contain warnings from both our side and the enemy's. However, negotiations are not ongoing, and any claims of them are untrue.

- You just mentioned exchanging direct messages. What do you mean? Is there a connection with American structures or not?

- Messages are exchanged through intermediaries. Witkoff continues to send me messages as before. However, this cannot be considered a negotiation process — it is simply an exchange of information, which takes place in both peacetime and wartime.

- The United States is discussing the possibility of negotiations with a certain Iranian entity. Is there another entity, other than the known body, negotiating with the United States? And is there currently a rift in the Iranian political system?

- No, that's not true. All messages go through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or its departments. Security agencies, of course, have their own contacts, and exchanges can take place through them, but always within the established framework of the government. All these issues are under the jurisdiction of a single administration and are fully controlled by the Supreme National Security Council of Iran.

- How would you comment on the US President's statements regarding your reaction to the 15 demands put forward by the United States?

- So far, we have not provided any response to the so-called American 15-point plan, and there has been no reaction from us.

- Has there been a response to the five conditions you set forth?

- We have not made any demands of the other side. As for the five conditions reported in the press, these are merely media speculations. That's the role of the media: to speculate and analyze the situation. At this point, the American side has received nothing, and no decisions have been made on our part.

- What is the current status of the negotiations? Are there any signs of progress, or does the situation remain difficult?

- We have not made any decisions yet. We have many considerations on this issue, and our conditions for ending the war are clear: we do not accept a ceasefire; we seek a complete end to the war not only in Iran, but throughout the entire region. We need guarantees that such attacks will not be repeated and that the Iranian people will receive compensation for the damage caused. At this point, there are no grounds for negotiations, and all that is happening is simply an exchange of messages.

- What would motivate you to begin negotiations with the United States?

- Once the Islamic Republic's top leadership is convinced that the interests of the Iranian people are reliably protected within the framework of this agreement, appropriate instructions will be issued to the executive bodies, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Our goal is to guarantee the protection of the interests of the Iranian people and the preservation of their rights. Currently, this goal is achieved through protection against aggression from external enemies, particularly the United States and the Zionist entity [Israel]. Whenever the need arises to give this protection other forms or dimensions, appropriate instructions will be issued.

- You mentioned your desire for guarantees that a war against Iran will not break out again. Do you believe that the current mediators — Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey — are capable of ensuring such negotiations? And are real steps being taken to bring Iran and the United States closer together to resolve this conflict?

- This is a truly important and serious question: what guarantees can be offered? Naturally, one or two countries are not enough. Experience has shown that even Security Council guarantees are not sufficient. In this regard, we are considering the ideas put forward by our friends, as well as presenting proposals on how to ensure reliable guarantees for a complete and final end to the war. These ideas have been shared with us, and we are currently studying them to determine what guarantees could be effective if the war were ever to end on Iran's terms.

- The US President announced that he will give Iran until April 6, after which he intends to strike all key targets. What can you say about this threat?

- We have been tested repeatedly, and we do not accept ultimatums or artificial deadlines. It is important to us to ensure the interests and rights of the Iranian people, and no one has the right to

Don't impose rigid deadlines on us. Such artificial deadlines serve no purpose other than to complicate the situation. You've already seen this deadline extended twice. Therefore, in my opinion, the US President must fundamentally change his approach. The Iranian people cannot be threatened or given ultimatums. The Iranians are a great and civilized people with an ancient history and a rich culture, and they must be treated with respect. Otherwise, they will give a fitting response, as we are now seeing.

- One of the key disagreements between the US and Iran today is the situation in the Strait of Hormuz. What is Tehran's current position on this issue?

- The Strait of Hormuz is the internal waters of Iran and the Sultanate of Oman, not international. Therefore, it is fair to consider the interests of these two states regarding passage through the Strait. Currently, the Strait is open to all countries that are not at war with us. This is a normal wartime measure, as we cannot allow enemies to use our internal waters. As for other countries, some refrain from transit [through the strait] due to concerns related to regional instability, high insurance rates, and other factors. Some countries have initiated discussions with us, and as a result, we have taken measures to ensure safe passage for many of them, especially friendly states, through the Strait of Hormuz. There have been numerous media reports of countries considering this issue after signing agreements with Iran guaranteeing safe transit.

After the war, responsibility for organizing transit through the strait will fall to Iran and Oman. In doing so, we will certainly take into account the interests of our allies both in the region and beyond. We are convinced that the Strait of Hormuz can serve as a peaceful waterway for the free and safe passage of vessels of all countries. At the same time, maintaining regional security, guaranteeing safe navigation, addressing environmental issues, and regulating and managing maritime traffic require the creation of effective systems and mechanisms. This responsibility lies with the states bordering the Strait of Hormuz — Iran and Oman.

- There is a serious threat from America — the seizure of a group of islands and a ground invasion to control the region. What is Iran's position on this threat, and is it prepared to adequately respond?

- I already answered this question. I said we are prepared to meet them, but I doubted they would have the courage to take such a step, given the severe losses they would incur. Of course, we are not seeking war — we have not started it and we do not want one. But when we had to defend ourselves, our defense was powerful. You saw the damage inflicted on their facilities, military equipment, radars in the region, as well as their aircraft, especially their strategic ones. You saw what happened to their AWACS tanker aircraft. We understand perfectly how to defend ourselves, and we have extensive experience and superior equipment in ground warfare. We are fully prepared to counter any threat or ground attack on our country, and we hope they will not make the same mistake.

- At the same time, several reports indicate that you are demanding that any dialogue with the United States on ending the war include the entire "Axis of Resistance." What exactly do you mean by this?

- Our position is this: any end to the war must be comprehensive and complete throughout the region. When we speak of ending the war, we mean ending it in Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, and all other parts of the region. We seek peace and an end to conflict, and we believe the region shares this desire. We hope the United States and Israel understand this. The war must end on terms that ensure peace in the region and prevent its recurrence.

- The American side predicts that the war could last four to six weeks. What do you think the timeline will be from Iran's perspective?

- We do not set any deadlines for self-defense. We will continue to defend ourselves as long as necessary and defend ourselves, our people, and our country by all appropriate means. We are not interested in the policies our enemies pursue or the deadlines they set themselves. We advise them to end the war definitively to avoid further losses.

- Some say Iran is prepared for a six-month war. How realistic is this prospect, especially given US and Israeli statements about possible strikes on Iranian missile and air defense systems?

- We are prepared for a six-month war. We will defend our country as long as necessary.

- If Iran is confronting the United States, why is it attacking the Persian Gulf countries?

- We have made this point clear repeatedly. We are not attacking our friends in the Persian Gulf countries; our actions are directed solely against American facilities and forces that

Unfortunately, they are located on their territory. Collateral damage sometimes occurs, but our only target is American facilities located in these countries. It is an undeniable fact: the United States is using the territory and airspace of these countries to strike Iran.

- How do you see Iran's relations with its neighbors developing in the coming period?

- I admit that rebuilding trust in the future will not be easy. However, I am confident that through our goodwill, shared Islamic values, and common goals, we can restore it. We live together in this region, and its security is in our own hands. Experience shows that the presence of American bases does not bring stability, but rather undermines it. Our friends who complain about attacks should express their dissatisfaction with the United States. Why do American bases not serve as protection but turn them into targets? If there were no American bases in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and other countries, they likely would not be attacked. The presence of American bases in the region undermines its security. In the future, we must reach a common decision to live under conditions of collective defense. Security requires a cooperative regional structure: one side cannot be secure at the expense of another. Likewise, prosperity, progress, and development must be inclusive. If we want to establish lasting peace in the region, we must reject the influence of foreign powers, rely on our own strength, and build security through defense and economic agreements between the countries of the region. I am confident and hope that only such an approach will ensure long-term and sustainable security.

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