“Incoming messages”: Iranian Foreign Minister Araqchi says the United States wants to continue peace talks

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Friday that Tehran “received messages” from the United States seeking to continue the talks.Click here for live updates on the US-Iran warAraqchi made these remarks during a press conference in New Delhi, where he is attending a meeting of BRICS foreign ministers.Araqchi told reporters: “What was said about the United States’ rejection of the Iranian proposal, or Iran’s rejection of the American proposal, goes back a few days ago when Mr. Trump tweeted that it was unacceptable,” referring to Tehran’s response to the American proposal that called for a cessation of hostilities before moving to negotiations on controversial issues, including the Iranian nuclear program.The top Iranian diplomat added: “But after that, we received messages again from the Americans saying that they were ready to continue talks and maintain communication.”Trump dismissed the Iranian response as a “piece of garbage” and stated that the ceasefire, in place since April 8, was “on massive life support” and “incredibly weak.”“I would call it the weakest now, after reading the piece of garbage they sent us. I didn’t even finish reading it,” Trump told reporters earlier this week.Read also: Trump says the ceasefire between the United States and Iran needs “life support”; Describes Tehran’s latest proposal as a “piece of garbage”Meanwhile, Araqchi indicated that Iran “does not trust the Americans,” accusing Washington of resorting to diplomacy only after failing to achieve its goals through military pressure.

He pointed out, “Now, after 40 days of war, when the United States has become desperate to achieve any goal in its aggression against Iran, it has offered to negotiate.” “We have no confidence in the Americans. This is the main obstacle to any diplomatic effort. We have every reason not to trust the Americans, while they have no reason not to trust us.”Araqchi described the ceasefire as “very fragile” and stressed that Tehran is nonetheless trying to maintain it to make room for diplomacy.He stressed, “We are now in a state of ceasefire, although it is very fragile. But we are trying to maintain it to give diplomacy a chance.” He added: “There is no military solution to anything related to Iran. They have tested us time and time again. We never bow to any pressure or threat. We also resist any sanctions. The Iranian people only respond to the language of respect.”The Middle East war began with joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. The two sides later met in Islamabad, Pakistan, from April 11 to 12 for high-stakes talks, but failed to achieve any progress.