Iran ready for nuclear talks with US, but sets red lines on missiles

2026-01-31 15:38:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has signaled a willingness to resume nuclear talks with the United States, while setting red lines regarding Tehran's missile program.

Speaking in Istanbul on January 30, Araqchi said Tehran would be ready to resume talks with Washington if they were conducted, as he put it, in a "fair and equitable" manner.

In a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart, the Iranian official said he was open to confidence-building measures regarding the nuclear program, but stressed that Iran's military stance was non-negotiable.

"Iran's defense capabilities and missiles will never be subject to negotiations," he said, adding that so far there are no plans for negotiations between Tehran and Washington.

Araqchi made these statements as diplomatic activity intensifies in the region to prevent a direct confrontation between the United States and Iran.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has told Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian that Ankara could serve as a mediator between Iran and the United States.

According to the Turkish Presidency, Ankara is ready to help reduce tensions and resolve existing problems.

The Iranian presidency quoted Pezeshkian as saying that any round of negotiations would depend on abandoning "threatening actions in the region."

However, analysts believe that Tehran's stance reflects long-standing rigidity rather than a significant change.

Ali Vaez, director of the Iran project at the International Crisis Group, argues that Iran's negotiating stance has remained unchanged since the beginning of 2025, despite increasing pressure.

"The Islamic Republic neither knows nor is willing to learn what approach to take towards [US President] Donald Trump," Vaez told Radio Free Europe.

Trump, on the other hand, has his own demands. On January 29, he said that Iran must halt its nuclear program and stop "killing protesters," claiming that he had already conveyed these demands to Iranian officials.

Two days ago, he said a "massive armada" was heading towards Iran, and warned that it could act "swiftly" if necessary, although he expressed hope for a "fair deal" that would leave Iran without nuclear weapons.

The unrest in Iran began on December 28, fueled by rising inflation and the devaluation of the local currency.

Even the most conservative estimates put the death toll at over 6,000.

In other measurements, the number goes into the tens of thousands.

Iranian authorities deny responsibility, blaming the killings on so-called terrorists, who they claim were supported by the United States and Israel. /REL