Iran is expressing skepticism about the United States’ reliability in nuclear talks, holding off on negotiations until Israel ceases its attacks.
Foreign Minister Abbas Arakchi accused the Trump administration of using the discussions as a facade for Israeli airstrikes aimed at Iran’s nuclear initiative, highlighting that the assault occurred just two days before new talks were set to begin.
“It seems they had this plan in mind,” Arakchi claimed, suggesting that they perhaps needed the negotiations to cover their actions. He stated this during an interview with NBC News.
“Trust is in question here. What they did is essentially a diplomatic betrayal.”
He asserted that negotiations would be on hold as long as Israel’s actions continued, firmly rejecting Trump’s insistence on halting uranium enrichment, especially with the looming “two weeks” deadline for a potential deal.
During a meeting with special envoy Steve Witkoff, Arakchi maintained that achieving zero enrichment was unrealistic, stating that Witkoff had accused him of fostering a “lack of confidence” between the nations.
He characterized Tehran’s nuclear program as a significant scientific “achievement” and a source of “pride and dignity,” emphasizing that Iran would rebuild it using its accumulated knowledge and technology, regardless of any destruction.
Arakchi noted that US officials could quickly resolve the issue with a single phone call to stop attacks on Tel Aviv.
“They can halt this in no time, and then we can revisit diplomacy,” he told Andrea Mitchell during the interview.
Israel recently targeted Iran, focusing on its leading nuclear scientists and military figures associated with its enrichment program.
In private discussions, President Trump has reportedly been considering a contract aimed at limiting uranium enrichment, collaborating with Israel to strike Tehran’s nuclear sites.
On Thursday, the president mentioned plans to reach a conclusion within “the next two weeks,” expressing hope for renewed negotiations regarding Tehran’s nuclear activities.
Araqchi cautioned that Iran would respond if the US aligned itself with Israel in military actions against the country.
“In a conflict, both sides strike back. That’s intuitive. Self-defense is a legitimate right for all nations,” he remarked.
“Should the US join Israel in these assaults, we will retaliate accordingly.”
