Iran FM Seyed Abbas Araghchi Criticises US Actions As Iran Talks Face Uncertainty

Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s Foreign Minister, has criticised what he described as ‘provocative’ conduct by the United States, saying such actions are complicating efforts to sustain diplomatic engagement between Tehran and Washington.

According to a statement from Iran’s Foreign Ministry, Araghchi raised concerns during separate calls with officials from Pakistan and Russia, pointing to US measures against Iranian commercial shipping. He referred specifically to the reported seizure of the container vessel ‘Touska’ and its crew, and accused Washington of sending mixed signals through its rhetoric and policy stance.

A ceasefire that came into force on 8 April after weeks of conflict remains delicate.

Pakistan has played a mediating role, hosting initial indirect discussions in Islamabad earlier this month. Iran, however, has yet to confirm whether it will join a further round of talks, as reported by Xinhua News Agency.

Iranian outlet Tasnim News Agency indicated that participation would depend on the United States meeting certain conditions.

Among the issues cited are the ongoing naval restrictions and what Tehran views as excessive demands from Washington.

Araghchi said Iran would weigh ‘all aspects’ before deciding its next steps. He stressed that national security considerations would guide any move to continue negotiations.

Earlier in the day, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei reiterated that no decision had been taken regarding future talks.

Speaking in Tehran, Esmaeil Baghaei accused the United States of acting inconsistently while claiming to pursue diplomacy. He said Iran encountered what he described as bad faith from Washington since the ceasefire began.

Esmaeil Baghaei highlighted disagreements over the scope of the truce. He said Washington initially excluded Lebanon from the agreement, a position Iran disputes.

Tensions escalated after the United States and Israel launched joint military strikes on Iranian targets in late February. The strikes reportedly caused senior leadership casualties and civilian deaths.

Iran subsequently launched missile and drone attacks targeting Israeli positions and US-linked assets across the region, further escalating the conflict.

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