1 hour ago
Last Updated:January 30, 2026, 18:32 IST
The Iranian foreign minister made it clear that the country’s missile and defensive capabilities will never be subject to negotiation.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. (AFP photo)
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday said that the country is ready to resume nuclear talks with the United States, but only “on an equal footing."
Araghchi made the remarks during a joint press conference in Istanbul with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan.
“If the negotiations are fair and on an equal footing, the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to participate," Araghchi said, while reiterating Tehran’s longstanding position that it has “never sought to obtain nuclear weapons."
Araghchi added that no formal meetings with US officials have been planned yet. Preparatory work is still the priority, he said, including agreements on the form, topics and venue of any talks.
“No meeting plan has been set between us and the Americans. We are ready for fair and just negotiations, but preparations are needed, both in terms of the form and subject of the discussions and the venue," he said.
The Iranian foreign minister also made it clear that the country’s missile and defensive capabilities will never be subject to negotiation. “I want to state firmly that Iran’s defensive and missile capabilities will never be subject to negotiation," he said.
The comments come a day after US President Donald Trump said he hopes to avoid military action against Iran. Trump, speaking at an event, said he was in communication with Tehran and left open the possibility of diplomatic engagement.
“I have had and I am planning on it," Trump told reporters. “We have a group headed out to a place called Iran, and hopefully we won’t have to use it," he added, referring to US military forces deployed in the region.
(With inputs from AFP)
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First Published:
January 30, 2026, 18:32 IST
News world No Talks Yet, But Iran Says Nuclear Negotiations Must Be On 'Equal Footing' With US
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