TEHRAN: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has reaffirmed that the country’s missile program is tied to its national defense and will not be placed on the negotiating table under any circumstances.
Speaking in an interview with an Arab television network, Araghchi said Iran and the United States recently held indirect discussions in Muscat, adding that brief interactions, including handshakes, took place between members of the two delegations.
He cautioned that any US military action against Iran would prompt retaliatory strikes on American bases in the region, while stressing that Iran has no intention of targeting the US mainland.
On the nuclear issue, Araghchi described uranium enrichment as Iran’s non-negotiable and legitimate right, stating that even airstrikes would fail to dismantle the country’s nuclear capabilities. At the same time, he said Tehran remains open to reaching a reassurance or confidence-building agreement related to enrichment.
The foreign minister said a date for the next round of talks with Washington has yet to be set, but both sides agree that negotiations should continue in the near future.
He reiterated that Iran’s missile program will remain excluded from any discussions, underlining that it is a core component of the country’s defense strategy.
