Iran has firmly dismissed the possibility of nuclear negotiations with the United States following Washington’s deployment of additional naval forces to the Middle East, escalating tensions in the region. The remarks by Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday came hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced the movement of a “massive armada” toward the region.
“There can be no negotiations in an atmosphere of threats,” Araghchi stated via Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency, emphasizing that diplomacy under military pressure is “neither effective nor useful.” He added that Tehran remains open to a renewed nuclear agreement but warned of a forceful response to any U.S. military action, declaring Iran’s armed forces are “prepared – with their fingers on the trigger.”
Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform, urged Iran to return to negotiations while highlighting the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group to Middle Eastern waters. “Time is running out,” he wrote, cautioning that future U.S. military action would be “far worse” than previous engagements if no deal is reached.
The standoff follows weeks of heightened friction, including protests in Iran that authorities have blamed on foreign interference. Analysts suggest the U.S. naval buildup reflects Washington’s strategy to counter Tehran’s regional influence while pressuring it to curb its nuclear program.
