Iran’s Araqchi rejects ceasefire: ‘We never asked for talks’

2026-03-16 - 07:52

‘No trust in US diplomacy’ Speaking to American press outlets, Araqchi firmly rejected the notion that Iran has requested negotiations to halt the current conflict. “We have never asked for a ceasefire, nor have we sought talks,” he declared. “We are prepared to defend ourselves for as long as it takes, and we have done so thus far. We will continue our defense until President Trump understands that this war is illegal and unwinnable.” The foreign minister pointed to past experiences where diplomatic engagement coincided with military assault, stating, “We were in talks with them when they decided to attack us. This has happened twice, and we have no positive experience with US negotiations. What benefit would there be in returning to the table?” ‘Only US military assets targeted’ Addressing allegations that Iranian strikes have endangered civilians, Araqchi insisted that operations are strictly limited to American military infrastructure. “We are only targeting US assets, facilities, and military bases. Everything struck belongs to the United States,” he said. He further claimed that neighboring territories are being used to launch attacks against Iran, citing recent incidents. “Just yesterday, our islands were struck by short-range HIMARS rockets fired from UAE soil. A week earlier, three F-15 fighter jets crashed in Kuwait—apparently due to friendly fire—but no one questions what those aircraft were doing there. They were using the airspace of a friendly nation to attack us. We cannot remain silent about this.” Strait of Hormuz remains open Araqchi clarified the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, denying that Iran has closed the vital waterway. “We have not shut down the Strait. Vessels are not entering due to insecurity caused by US attacks, not because we are blocking them,” he explained. He noted that some countries have contacted Tehran to ensure safe passage for their ships. “We are facilitating secure transit because the strait is open. The final decision rests with our military authorities, but we are prepared to discuss safety measures with concerned nations.” Nuclear materials under IAEA supervision Regarding Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, Araqchi confirmed that approximately 440 kilograms remains buried under rubble following strikes on nuclear facilities. “The IAEA has verified and reported these quantities. Our nuclear sites were attacked, and everything is now under debris. While recovery is possible, it would only occur under Agency supervision, and we currently have no plan to do so.” He also revealed that prior to the attacks, Tehran had offered to dilute its 60 percent enriched uranium as a goodwill gesture. “This was part of the agreement we were negotiating with the Americans—a significant concession demonstrating that Iran never sought and will never pursue nuclear weapons.” However, he stressed that no proposals are currently on the table, adding, “Everything depends on the future. If we decide to re-engage with the US or other parties, we will consider what to offer then. For now, there is nothing.”