Iran’s FM Abbas Araghi takes tough stance on US talks, says Tehran’s strength comes from saying ‘no’

Iran’s top diplomat insisted on Sunday (Feb 8, 2026) that Tehran’s power comes from its ability to “say no to great powers”, after the latter struck a high-profile position. Negotiations with the United States over its nuclear program and in the wake of nationwide protests.

Speaking to diplomats at the summit in Tehran, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghi indicated that Iran would stick to its position that it must be able to enrich uranium — a key point of contention with President Donald Trump, who bombed Iran’s nuclear sites in June during the 12-day Iran-Israel war.

While Iranian President Masoud Pezheshkian on Friday (Feb 6, 2026) hailed the talks with the Americans in Oman as “a step forward”, Mr Araghchi’s remarks signaled the challenge ahead. Already, the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has moved ships and warplanes to the Middle East to pressure Iran into a deal and to have the firepower needed to strike the Islamic Republic if Trump decides to do so.

“I believe the secret of the strength of the Islamic Republic of Iran lies in its ability to stand up to intimidation, dominance and pressure from others,” Mr. Araghchi said. “They are afraid of our atomic bomb, but we are not after the atomic bomb. Our atomic bomb is the power to say no to the great powers. The secret of the power of the Islamic Republic lies in the power to say no to the powers.”

“Atomic Bomb” as a Rhetorical Device

Araghchi’s choice to expressly use the “atomic bomb” as a rhetorical device is not accidental. Although Iran has long maintained its nuclear program peacefully, the West and the International Atomic Energy Agency say that until 2003, Tehran had an organized military program to find a bomb.

Iran is enriching uranium to 60 percent purity, a small, technological step toward weapons-grade levels of 90 percent, making it the only non-weapons state. In recent years, Iranian officials have threatened that the Islamic Republic could find the bomb, even as its diplomats have indicated that Iran will not enact the teachings of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as a binding fatwa, or religious edict.

Mr. Araghchi ordered Mr. Araghchi to negotiate with the Americans after the possibility of getting Khamenei’s blessing. Pezheshkian also wrote X On Sunday (February 8, 2026) negotiations.

“The Iran-US negotiations are a step forward through follow-up efforts by friendly governments in the region,” the president wrote. “Dialogue has always been our strategy for a peaceful resolution. … The Iranian nation will always respond to respect with respect, but it will not tolerate the language of force.” It is unclear when and where, or if, the second round of talks will take place. Mr Trump, after Friday’s talks, gave few details but said: “It looks like Iran wants to make a deal very badly – as they should.”

An aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea

During Friday’s (February 6, 2026) talks, US Navy Adm. Brad Cooper, head of the American military’s Central Command, was in Oman. Cooper’s presence is a deliberate reminder to Iran of the US military presence in the region.

Mr Cooper then left for Lincoln in the Arabian Sea after indirect talks with US Special Envoy Steve Wittkoff and Mr Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Mr. After multiple rounds of talks last year, the US “attacked us in the middle of the talks,” he noted. “If you take a step back (in the talks), it’s not clear where it’s going to go,” Mr Araghchi said.