Iran has signaled readiness to resume talks with the United States, but only if negotiations are conducted fairly and exclude Iran’s defence and missile capabilities, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Friday, as regional powers intensify diplomatic efforts to avert a military confrontation between the two rivals.
Tensions between Tehran and Washington have escalated sharply in recent weeks. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he plans to speak with Iran, even as the United States dispatched another warship to the Middle East and senior Pentagon officials reiterated that the military stands ready to act on presidential orders.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Istanbul after talks with his Turkish counterpart, Araqchi said Iran supports “fair and equitable” negotiations but stressed that no meetings with U.S. officials are currently scheduled.
“Iran has no issue with negotiations,” Araqchi said. “But talks cannot take place under threats. Those threats must end, and the approach must shift toward fairness and mutual respect.”
He categorically ruled out any discussion of Iran’s military capabilities, saying the country’s missile program would “never be subject to negotiations.”
“Iran will preserve and expand its defensive capabilities to the extent necessary to protect the country,” he added.
U.S. officials have previously indicated that limiting Iran’s missile program remains one of Washington’s key conditions for renewed talks, an idea Tehran has firmly rejected.
Araqchi said Iran is prepared for either diplomacy or confrontation, while emphasizing that it prefers engagement and is actively coordinating with regional partners to maintain stability.
Countries including Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia have stepped up diplomatic outreach in recent days to prevent a military escalation between Iran and the United States.
Araqchi said he and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan have been in near-daily contact to assess developments and manage tensions.
Turkey, a NATO member that shares a border with Iran, has opposed any foreign military intervention and has urged dialogue as the only viable path forward. Earlier on Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian that Ankara is willing to act as a facilitator between Tehran and Washington.
Fidan said he held extensive discussions on Thursday with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and would continue engaging Washington to prevent conflict and further isolation of Iran.
He added that restarting U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations would be a crucial step toward easing sanctions on Tehran.
“We call on all parties to return to the negotiating table and address the issues one by one,” Fidan said.
Meanwhile, U.S. officials maintain that President Trump has not yet decided whether to pursue military action. Israeli media reported on Friday that a U.S. Navy destroyer had docked at the port of Eilat, underscoring heightened military readiness in the region.
