The Iranian Foreign Minister called it impossible to hold direct talks with the United States due to threats

Currently, the situation in the negotiations between Iran and the United States on the nuclear program has developed in such a way that the Islamic Republic cannot conduct direct negotiations with opponents due to incoming threats from the American side. This was stated on April 18 by the head of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Abbas Araqchi, answering a question from a correspondent of Izvestia.

"We will only conduct indirect negotiations. Obviously, due to the threats voiced by the US government and economic sanctions, as well as the policy of maximum pressure against us, we cannot negotiate directly with them," Araqchi said.

At the same time, the diplomatic path to resolve the issue is absolutely open, the head of the department told Izvestia correspondent Anton Zolotnitsky. According to Araqchi, indirect negotiations are not surprising and it is possible to reach agreements in this format.

"During the first round of negotiations, we saw the serious attitude of the opposite side and the intention to discuss exclusively the nuclear issue. This may allow us to enter into constructive negotiations. I have already said that unrealistic demands will not help to reach an agreement," the senior diplomat said.

Shock mood: Israel discusses military solution to Iran's nuclear problem

Tehran is close to possessing weapons of mass destruction

On April 16, Araqchi said that the Iranian authorities were ready to start discussing the terms of the agreement proposed by the United States only if Washington did not insist on the complete elimination of the country's nuclear program. He noted that the issue of uranium enrichment is not subject to discussion, but is an accepted fact.

The first round of negotiations between the United States and Iran on lifting sanctions and nuclear issues ended in Oman on April 12. During the meeting, the Iranian Foreign Minister and the US President's Special envoy for the Middle East, Stephen Witkoff, exchanged the positions of their governments on these issues in the presence of the Omani Foreign Minister. At the end of the meeting, Tehran announced the continuation of negotiations in a week.

Araqchi said that during the second round, Iran will discuss with the United States the framework of possible agreements. The American leader Donald Trump noted that the negotiations on Iran are going well.