Iran rejected calls from Western leaders to return to the negotiating table, asserting it would not continue nuclear talks while under attack by Israel.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday that his country has discussed the possibility of reopening nuclear talks with Western leaders, but ultimately rejected offers due to ongoing Israeli attacks.
“The Americans have repeatedly sent messages calling seriously for negotiations,” the minister said during televised remarks. “But we have made clear that as long as the aggression does not stop, there will be no place for diplomacy and dialogue.”
According to reports, Mr. Araghchi and U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff have spoken on the phone several times since the outbreak of war between Israel and Iran last Thursday. During those talks, Mr. Araghchi reportedly told Mr. Witkoff that Iran could be more flexible on the nuclear issue if the U.S. pressured Israel to end the war.
German, French and British leaders were expected to meet with Mr. Araghchi in Geneva on Friday to discuss ending the conflict. It is unclear if the meeting will still take place.
Friday’s open rejection of further nuclear diplomacy comes as the Israel–Iran war enters its second week. Israeli authorities said they restarted their assault on Iran on Friday, launching a wave of missiles and drones aimed at Iran’s missile production and research facilities.
Iran responded to Israel’s attacks with its own barrage of missiles and drones on Friday, targeting Israel’s military infrastructure.
As the war has intensified, both sides have accused the other of targeting civilian infrastructure. Earlier this week, Israel accused Iran of deliberately targeting civilians after one of its missiles hit a hospital in Beersheba. Israel specifically criticized Iran’s use of cluster munitions, which disperse bombs over a wide area. Iran asserted that the hospital is near Israeli military facilities, a claim Israel denies.
Israel says at least 24 civilians have been killed as a result of Iranian missile and drone strikes.
Iran, too, has accused Israel of targeting civilian areas. Iranian officials said on Friday that Israeli strikes had damaged five hospitals in Tehran. Iran has said Israeli strikes have mostly targeted civilian areas and that most of the over 600 people killed in Iran have been civilians.
Israel’s stated goal in the conflict is to decimate Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, though Israeli officials have also mentioned destabilizing the regime of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Israel may not be able to fully destroy Iran’s nuclear capabilities without U.S. assistance. On Thursday, President Trump said he would decide on U.S. involvement in the Israel–Iran war in the next two weeks. The deadline gives Iranian negotiators the chance to return to the bargaining table and the Israeli military time to destroy Iran’s enrichment facilities.
