Abbas Araghchi says Iran distrusts U.S.
- Abbas Araghchi said yesterday Iran distrusts the United States but would keep diplomatic channels open to resume discussions if Washington demonstrates seriousness. - Araghchi told reporters Iran postponed nuclear-topic negotiations and said trust must be rebuilt before substantive talks resume with the United States or mediators present. - His comments came during Islamabad-mediated discussions this week amid stalled talks and Iran's enriched-uranium dispute. (x.com)
1/ Abbas Araghchi, Iran's lead nuclear negotiator, stated on May 14, 2026, that Tehran distrusts the United States but would maintain open diplomatic channels for potential talks if Washington shows seriousness. He made the remarks to reporters in Islamabad during Pakistan-mediated discussions on regional issues. 2/ Araghchi specified that Iran has postponed negotiations on nuclear topics until trust is rebuilt. "We have postponed the nuclear talks," he said, adding that substantive discussions with the U.S. or mediators cannot resume without prior confidence-building measures. This follows stalled indirect talks in Oman last month. 3/ The comments stem from a dispute over Iran's enriched uranium stockpile, which the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported reached 6,201 kg of uranium enriched to 60% purity as of May 17—enough for several nuclear weapons if further enriched. Iran insists its program is peaceful. 4/ Background: Araghchi, a veteran diplomat and former foreign minister deputy, led Iran's team in the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) talks. The deal capped Iran's enrichment at 3.67% and limited stockpiles to 300 kg in exchange for sanctions relief. U.S. President Trump withdrew in 2018, prompting Iran to breach limits starting in 2019. 5/ Post-withdrawal, Iran has expanded centrifuges at Natanz and Fordow facilities. By February 2026, it installed 15 cascades of advanced IR-6 centrifuges, boosting output, per IAEA reports. The U.S. reimposed sanctions, and Biden administration efforts for revival collapsed in 2022 after Iran's demands for guarantees clashed with Washington's red lines on missiles and proxies. 6/ Recent context: Indirect U.S.-Iran talks via Oman mediators halted in April 2026 after Iran rejected a U.S. proposal limiting enrichment to 20% for civilian use. Pakistan stepped in this week for broader de-escalation talks amid Israel-Iran tensions and Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping linked to Iran's support. 7/ Araghchi's "seriousness" condition echoes Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian's March 2026 statement that the U.S. must lift oil sanctions first. U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff responded on May 15 that Washington remains open to diplomacy but demands IAEA access to undeclared sites. No resumption date set. 8/ Pakistan's role: Islamabad hosted Araghchi and a U.S. undersecretary on May 13-14 for unpublicized sessions. Pakistani FM Ishaq Dar said the talks covered "confidence-building" without nuclear specifics. Pakistan, Iran's neighbor, has pushed mediation since 2024 border clashes. 9/ Stockpile facts: Iran's 60% enriched uranium hit 142 kg in the latest IAEA report, up 50% from November 2025. Weapons-grade (90%) needs weeks more. The JCPOA's "snapback" sanctions mechanism expires October 2026 unless extended by UN Security Council. 10/ Forward: Araghchi returns to Tehran on May 16. Oman mediators plan a Vienna meeting on May 25 with E3+1 (UK, France, Germany, Russia, China) to assess. U.S. officials say any deal requires zero enrichment above 5% and dismantlement of excess centrifuges. Watch IAEA board meeting June 6.
