Iran has signaled that relations with the United States are increasingly difficult to repair as Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi ruled out the possibility of new talks with Washington after what he described as a “very bitter experience.”
In an interview with PBS News, Araghchi said previous talks between Iran and the US ended in great disappointment when a military strike was launched while talks were still ongoing.
He was referring to the 12-day conflict last year when Israel and the US targeted Iranian nuclear facilities despite ongoing talks.
According to him, the situation makes it difficult for Tehran to trust any new diplomatic efforts with Washington.
Although the latest nuclear talks in Geneva were previously seen as taking place in a serious and constructive atmosphere, Araghchi claimed that the progress made did not prevent military action against his country.
At the same time, he said it was too early to determine whether Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, would open the way for new talks or a ceasefire.
But he hinted that the new leadership would continue its policy of opposition to the US and Israel.
Araghchi also denied allegations that Iran was deliberately disrupting global oil supplies.
According to him, disruptions to oil production and shipping were due to military tensions that have made the Middle East region increasingly unstable, thus making oil tankers afraid to pass through strategic routes such as the Strait of Hormuz.
He insisted that Iran was only acting in self-defense after facing an attack that was considered a violation of international law.
At the same time, Tehran warned that if the US launched an attack, Iran would have no choice but to target American military bases and assets in the region.
