Sun Apr 06 10:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Iran Rejects Direct US Nuclear Talks Amid Heightened Tensions

**Tehran, Iran** – Iran has rejected direct negotiations with the United States on its nuclear program, calling such talks “meaningless” amid escalating rhetoric from Washington. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Sunday that Iran is only open to indirect diplomacy, insisting on negotiations on an “equal footing” with a US administration that he accuses of issuing threats and contradictory statements.

The rejection follows a letter from President Trump to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, proposing negotiations to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons. However, Trump subsequently threatened military action, stating, “If they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing.”

Araghchi questioned the sincerity of Washington’s overtures, stating, “If you want negotiations, then what is the point of threatening?” He criticized the US for violating the UN Charter through its threats of force.

This latest exchange comes after the US withdrew from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a nuclear deal that offered Iran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program. Since then, Iran has significantly expanded its nuclear activities, accumulating enough fissile material for multiple bombs, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Adding to the tension, the head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hossein Salami, declared on Saturday that Iran is “ready” for war, although he insisted Iran would not be the aggressor.

While Iran maintains its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, the escalating situation raises serious concerns given regional instability and Israel’s possession of an undeclared nuclear arsenal. The ongoing conflict in Gaza and recent events in Lebanon and Syria have potentially weakened Iran’s regional standing, further complicating the situation.

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