Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that Iran did not plan to negotiate with the United States and that Tehran intended to keep fighting, after US President Donald Trump said Washington had proposed a peace plan.
“At present, our policy is the continuation of resistance”, Araghchi said on state TV, adding: “We do not intend to negotiate – so far, no negotiations have taken place, and I believe our position is completely principled.”
“Speaking of negotiations now is an admission of defeat,” he said.
The comments came after White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Mr Trump will hit Iran harder if Tehran fails to accept that the country has been “defeated militarily”.
“President Trump does not bluff and he is prepared to unleash hell. Iran should not miscalculate again,” Ms Leavitt told reporters in a press briefing.
“If Iran fails to accept the reality of the current moment, if they fail to understand that they have been defeated militarily, and will continue to be, President Trump will ensure they are hit harder than they have ever been hit before,” she said.
As the joint US-Israeli war on Iran entered its fourth week, there have been efforts by multiple countries such as Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt to mediate.
Iran is still reviewing a US proposal to end the war in the Gulf, despite an initial response that was negative, a senior Iranian official said earlier before Mr Araghchi’s comments.
Talks with Iran were still under way, Ms Leavitt said.
“Talks continue. They are productive, as the president said on Monday, and they continue to be,” she added.
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