Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi hold a joint press conference in Tehran, Tuesday, 25 February 2025. Photo: ATTA KENARE/AFP
Iran does not intend to give in to Washington’s pressure and will not agree to negotiations while sanctions are in place. This was stated by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Tuesday after a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Tehran. The meeting took place a few days after the first talks between the US and Russia after Donald Trump’s return to the White House,Reuters reports .
Sanctions, “maximum pressure” and Tehran’s position
On Monday, Washington announced a new package of sanctions against Iran, targeting the country’s energy sector, which is Tehran’s main source of income.
Donald Trump, who has begun his second term, has returned to the policy of “maximum pressure” on Iran. The main goal is to completely stop Iranian oil exports and restore the hard line he used during his first term.
However, Iran rejects any possibility of negotiations in such circumstances.
“Iran’s position on the nuclear talks is clear: we will not engage in dialogue under pressure and sanctions. Direct talks with the US are impossible as long as they continue their policy of maximum pressure,” Araghchi said at a joint press conference with Lavrov.
A course for rapprochement with Moscow
The ministerial meeting in Tehran covered issues of bilateral relations and regional policy. They also discussed Iran’s nuclear programme, and the two sides reaffirmed their intention to continue consultations on the issue.
In recent years, especially after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, Tehran and Moscow have significantly strengthened cooperation, particularly in the military sector, which is a cause for concern in the West.
“Our cooperation covers various areas – energy, trade, tourism and many other sectors,” Araghchi said, stressing the importance of the strategic partnership with Moscow.
Negotiations with Washington: no trust after 2018
The nuclear deal remains a key issue in Iran’s international relations. In 2018, during Trump’s first term in office, the US withdrew from the nuclear deal with Iran and reimposed sanctions, which led to an economic crisis in the country. In response, Tehran began to violate the terms of the 2015 agreement.
The previous administration of Joe Biden tried to return to a diplomatic settlement, but all attempts failed.
Despite Trump’s statements about his desire to conclude a new agreement with Iran, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has previously said that negotiations with the United States would not be “reasonable, wise or dignified”. At the same time, he did not renew the complete ban on negotiations that was in place during Trump’s first term in office.
Against the backdrop of tougher sanctions and Iran’s refusal to hold direct talks with the US, tensions in the region continue to rise. Tehran is betting on strengthening its partnership with Moscow, while Washington is resuming its policy of pressure.
Whether this will lead to a new crisis in the Middle East is an open question.
