Negotiation Will Proceed Once Iran Feels US Is Fair And Balanced: Tehran’s FM Araghchi To News18

Last Updated:May 15, 2026, 18:05 IST

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Iran would move forward with negotiations only if it is convinced that US is genuinely committed to a “fair and balanced deal”

In a direct question from News18 India, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said that deep mistrust and contradictory signals from Washington remain the biggest obstacles in ending the conflict between Iran and the United States.

Responding to a question from News18 India’s journalist Niraj Kumar on what is preventing an end to the confrontation between Tehran and Washington, Araghchi said, “The most important issue is mistrust and lack of trust. Another problem is contradictory messages, which has made us reluctant about the real intention of Americans for this negotiation. We have doubts about their seriousness."

He said that Iran would move forward with negotiations only if it is convinced that the United States is genuinely committed to a “fair and balanced deal".

“The moment we feel they are serious and they are ready for a fair and balanced deal, then we proceed for the course of negotiation," Araghchi added.

His remarks come amid continuing tensions between Iran and the United States over regional security and the future of diplomatic engagement.

On May 7, News18 India had exclusively broken the story of the Iranian Foreign Minister’s India visit.

Iran FM Araghchi arrived in India to participate in the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. This is also his first visit to India after the Iran war, making the visit diplomatically significant amid ongoing tensions in West Asia.

Before leaving for India, Iran’s Foreign Minister briefed media and reiterated Iran’s stand over multiple issues like Hormuz, Chabahar, India’s Energy concerns, etc.

Negotiations between the United States and Iran are in a critical deadlock, with both sides attempting to establish a peace framework to end a devastating military conflict while wrestling with deep geopolitical mistrust.

The White House and Iranian officials are negotiating a one-page memorandum of understanding. It seeks to end the war and lay down rules for comprehensive nuclear talks.

US Vice President JD Vance has said that lead envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are still “making progress". Progress remains tethered strictly to the administration’s core security boundaries.

News india Negotiation Will Proceed Once Iran Feels US Is Fair And Balanced: Tehran’s FM Araghchi To News18

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