Iran rejects Trump request for direct talks on nuclear programme

Iran's foreign minister rejected the United States' proposals for direct negotiations on Tehran's nuclear ambitions, days after US President Donald Trump called for face-to-face talks.

In a statement issued April 6th by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abbas Arghchi said Tehran was willing to hold indirect talks with Washington, notes Periscope.

<x0Iran keeps himself prepared for all possible or expected events and, as it is serious in diplomacy and negotiations, will be equally crucial and serious in protecting his national interests and sovereignty”, he was quoted as saying.

Arghch's comments came three days after Trump called for “direct talks with Tehran, saying they were the fastest “” and offered a better understanding than the use of mediators.

Last month Trump sent them a cardIranian Supreme Leader Ajatolah Ali Khamenei, calling for negotiations and warning him of military action if diplomacy fails.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Masud Pnezkian said 5 April that Tehran was willing to engage in dialogue, but if the parties were equal.

In 2015, Iran reached a historic agreement with the United States, France, China, Russia, and Britain, as well as Germany, to limit its nuclear activities.

The 2015 agreement eased the heavy sanctions that had limited Iran's economy.

During Trump's first term, however, the United States withdrew from the agreement and re-established sanctions.

Iran denies Western accusations that it is trying to create nuclear weapons, insisting that its programmes have purely civilian goals, such as electricity production. /REL