Relations between Washington and Tehran are marked by deep “mistrust” in the wake of last year’s strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, Abbas Araghchi stated
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned that Iran will target American military bases in the Middle East should the US launch an attack on the country.
On Friday, the US and Iran engaged in indirect talks in Oman amid escalating tensions stemming from last year’s strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities—strikes defended as actions to stop Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons, a goal Iran denies having.
US President Donald Trump has since threatened additional attacks unless Iran restarts negotiations, and last month deployed an “armada” to the Middle East, calling for restrictions on Iran’s uranium enrichment activities and missile program.
Friday’s gathering represented the first effort to resolve the impasse. While no breakthrough was disclosed, both parties agreed to keep talks going.
In remarks to Al Jazeera on Saturday, Araghchi greeted the return to talks as “a good starting point,” but pointed out that a “mistrustful” atmosphere persists due to last year’s strikes. He cautioned that Tehran would retaliate in a similar manner to any future US attack.
“If Washington attacks us, targeting US soil isn’t an option, but we will hit their regional bases,” he stated.
Araghchi repeated that Iran is ready for a potential war with the US, yet emphasized that the nuclear issue can only be solved through dialogue untainted by threats or coercion. He stressed that uranium enrichment is Iran’s right and must proceed, noting that Iran will retain enriched uranium domestically and adjust levels according to national requirements. He also dismissed the idea of negotiating over Iran’s missile program, labeling it a “purely defensive matter.”
Trump praised the Oman talks as “very good,” but continued his threats, warning on Friday that failing to reach an agreement would result in “very steep” consequences for Iran.
Shortly after the talks concluded, the US State Department unveiled new sanctions against Iran, targeting more than 30 entities, individuals, and vessels linked to its purported illegal petroleum and petrochemical trade.
Additional meetings between the US and Iran are slated for next week.
The US operates major military installations in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE, with troops deployed in Iraq and Syria and access to bases in Jordan and Djibouti. Tehran has long contended that the network of US bases close to its borders poses a direct security threat.