Iran FM says US outreach a ‘positive step’ as delegation in Qatar for talks

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi tells Al Jazeera Tehran doesn’t rule out attack, is ‘prepared for all scenarios’.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi [File: Elke Scholiers/Getty]

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says a United States effort to open dialogue with Tehran is “a positive step”, but that there are currently no plans for meetings with US officials.

Speaking to Al Jazeera on Saturday, Araghchi said Iran had studied a letter sent by US Vice President JD Vance in high-level meetings, and set out Tehran’s conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which he said would pave the way for renewed negotiations with Washington.

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He added that an Iranian delegation has travelled to Doha, a day after Qatari mediators were in Tehran in an apparent bid to negotiate a revival of the US-Iran ceasefire. Araghchi said one of his aides is in Qatar to continue consultations.

“The American side’s attempt to open the door to dialogue and understanding more broadly is a positive step,” the foreign minister told Al Jazeera.

However, he warned: “If Washington’s goal in sending this letter is to stir up discord, it would be yet another mistake to add to its previous ones.”

‘No need to meet with the Americans’

Araghchi played down talk of upcoming meetings between the two sides.

“What is being circulated in this regard is merely media speculation,” he said.

“We see no need to meet with the Americans at this stage. Our conditions are clear, and mediators are continuing their consultations regarding them,” he added.

He said whether Iran would hold direct or indirect talks with the US depended on Tehran’s conditions being met.

“Mediators have presented proposals concerning the nuclear dossier, which we are currently reviewing as part of the second phase,” he said.

“Qatari and Pakistani mediators are continuing consultations regarding our conditions,” Araghchi said.

Conditions for Hormuz

Araghchi said talks with Qatari mediators had shortened the time needed to implement Iran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

“The Qatari side proposed shortening the implementation period of the Iranian proposal to five days. We have reached a proposal at this stage that reduces the implementation period to two days,” he said.

“Our conditions include lifting the sanctions imposed following the Islamabad memorandum and reducing US forces in the region,” he said, adding, “We demand the restoration of oil waivers and the release of all our frozen funds, including those held in Qatar.”

Iran is also demanding recognition of shipping routes through the strait that it had discussed with Oman, and the closure of other routes, he said.

‘Prepared for all scenarios’

Araghchi also said his country does not rule out the possibility of an attack against Iran.

“We are prepared for all scenarios,” he said.

“We have upgraded our weaponry, addressed our vulnerabilities, and tested new arms. Our forces are at the highest level of readiness.”

伊朗外交部长阿巴斯·阿拉格奇告诉半岛电视台，德黑兰不排除发动袭击的可能性，并“为所有可能的情况做好了准备”。

伊朗外交部长阿巴斯·阿拉格奇 [文件：Elke Scholiers/Getty]

伊朗外交部长阿巴斯·阿拉格奇表示，美国努力与德黑兰展开对话是“积极的一步”，但目前还没有与美国官员会面的计划。

阿拉格奇周六在接受半岛电视台采访时表示，伊朗已在高级别会议上研究了美国副总统万斯发出的一封信，并提出了德黑兰重新开放霍尔木兹海峡的条件。他表示，这将为与华盛顿重新展开谈判铺平道路。

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他补充说，一个伊朗代表团已前往多哈。此前一天，卡塔尔调解员刚刚抵达德黑兰，显然是为了斡旋恢复美伊停火协议。阿拉格奇表示，他的一名助手正在卡塔尔继续磋商。

“美方试图打开对话和更广泛理解的大门，这是一个积极的步骤，”外交部长告诉半岛电视台。

但他警告说：“如果华盛顿发出这封信的目的是为了挑起不和，那将是继之前的错误之后又一个错误。”

“无需与美国人会面”

阿拉格奇淡化了双方即将举行会晤的传闻。

他说：“这方面的传闻纯属媒体猜测。”

他补充说：“我们认为现阶段没有必要与美方会面。我们的条件很明确，调解员正在继续就此进行磋商。”

他表示，伊朗是否会与美国举行直接或间接会谈，取决于德黑兰提出的条件是否得到满足。

他说：“调解员们已经提出了有关核问题的建议，我们目前正在第二阶段对其进行审查。”

“卡塔尔和巴基斯坦的调解员正在继续就我们的条件进行磋商，”阿拉格奇说。

霍尔木兹的条件

阿拉格奇表示，与卡塔尔调解人的会谈缩短了落实伊朗重新开放霍尔木兹海峡提议所需的时间。

他说：“卡塔尔方面提议将伊朗方案的执行期限缩短至五天。目前我们达成的方案是将执行期限缩短至两天。”

他说：“我们的条件包括解除根据伊斯兰堡备忘录实施的制裁，并减少该地区的美军人数。”他还补充道：“我们要求恢复石油豁免，并释放所有被冻结的资金，包括在卡塔尔的资金。”

他还表示，伊朗要求承认其与阿曼讨论过的通过海峡的航运路线，并关闭其他路线。

“已做好应对所有情况的准备”

阿拉格奇还表示，他的国家不排除对伊朗发动袭击的可能性。

他说：“我们已做好应对所有情况的准备。”

“我们升级了武器装备，解决了自身弱点，并测试了新型武器。我们的部队已达到最高战备水平。”