Iran’s foreign minister: The ball is in America’s court

Iran’s foreign minister: The ball is in America’s court

Washington Post-March8th2025

Opinion

By Seyed Abbas Araghchi

Seyed Abbas Araghchi is the minister of foreign affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

In recent weeks, a series of messages and letters have been exchanged between Iran and the United States. Contrary to some interpretations, these communications — at least on our side — have been neither symbolic nor ceremonial. We view them as representing a genuine attempt to clarify positions and open a window toward diplomacy.

Regarding Monday’s comments by President Donald Trump, Iran is ready to engage in earnest and with a view to seal a deal. We will meet in Oman on Saturday for indirect negotiations. It is as much an opportunity as it is a test. The model of engagement we propose is not novel. The United States itself is intermediating indirect talks between Russia and Ukraine — a much more intense and complex conflict entailing strategic, territorial, military, security and economic aspects.

I personally also have the experience of leading indirect talks with the United States. Mediated by the European Union back in 2021, that process — though more convoluted and demanding than direct engagement — proved both possible and productive. Though we did not cross the finish line then, it was mainly because of a lack of real determination by the Biden administration.

Pursuing indirect negotiations is not a tactic or reflection of ideology but a strategic choice rooted in experience. We face a significant wall of mistrust and harbor serious doubts about the sincerity of intentions, made worse by U.S. insistence on resuming the “maximum pressure” policy prior to any diplomatic interaction.

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