Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said Iran-US diplomacy can be restored if Washington abandons its pressure tactics against Tehran. He made the remarks after talks with Qatar’s prime minister in Tehran on Friday.
Araghchi said he held what he described as creative discussions with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. The talks focused on ways to reduce regional tensions and explore possible diplomatic openings.
The Iranian foreign minister said returning diplomacy to its previous path was not impossible. However, he stressed that Washington needed to understand that pressure would not produce the desired results, setting the tone for any future Iran-US diplomacy.
Araghchi also outlined conditions for renewed engagement with the United States. He said Washington should work to build trust, communicate respectfully, recognise Iran’s rights and honour its commitments.
The comments came during Sheikh Mohammed’s visit to Tehran, which diplomatic sources described as his first visit to Iran since US and Israeli strikes began in late February. His visit comes amid wider efforts to prevent further escalation in the region.
During the visit, the Qatari delegation held meetings with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei. The discussions included a proposal for a temporary joint navigation corridor through the Strait of Hormuz.
The officials also discussed efforts to clear mines in the strategic waterway. The latest talks highlight Qatar’s role in regional diplomacy as tensions remain high. Araghchi’s remarks suggest that Iran-US diplomacy could still resume, but Tehran expects Washington to change its approach before meaningful negotiations can begin.
