Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the BRICS meeting in New Delhi, India, on May 15, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said his administration had received a message from the White House indicating U.S. readiness for new talks to end the conflict in the region. However, he stressed that Tehran remains "skeptical" of Washington's true intentions.
"We doubt their seriousness, but as soon as we feel they are genuinely serious and ready for a fair deal, we will certainly proceed with negotiations," Araghchi said.
According to him, the issue of Iran's "enriched materials" remains deadlocked and is likely to be postponed to later stages of any future talks. "Currently, this matter is not under discussion or negotiation; we will address it in subsequent phases," the Iranian foreign minister explained.
Araghchi also confirmed exchanges with Russian officials over Moscow's proposal regarding the storage of Iran's enriched uranium. "When we reach that stage, we will consult further with Russia and consider whether this proposal is beneficial," he said.
Iran's top diplomat expressed readiness to welcome support from other nations besides Russia, particularly China, which is economically affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. "We appreciate any country capable of assisting, especially China. We have very good relations with China as a strategic partner and know that China has good intentions," Araghchi affirmed.
At the same meeting, Araghchi criticized the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for blocking part of a joint BRICS statement. He attributed this to the UAE's "special relationship with Israel." "The only reason they blocked the final statement is their support for Israel and the U.S. in the aggression against Iran, which is truly regrettable," the Iranian minister said.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump was meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, but no breakthrough was evident in efforts to find a resolution to the conflict with Iran.
