Iran’s Araghchi Reveals New Details on Talks Held Under Threat of Bombing

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has offered new details about negotiations held with US officials, saying discussions took place under the constant threat of military strikes. In an interview with Iran’s semi official Mehr news agency, Araghchi described conversations he held with Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner back in February, during which he directly asked Witkoff whether he had ever attended a meeting knowing he could be bombed at any moment.

Pushing back against any suggestion that American pressure had rattled Iranian officials, Araghchi insisted Tehran wasn’t scared by US threats, drawing a comparison to how other nations might respond under similar pressure. He suggested Iran’s leadership structure meant the country wouldn’t simply back down the way a single removed leader might cause others to retreat elsewhere.

Security Breach Behind February Strike Still Unresolved

Araghchi addressed the February 28 strike on Iran’s leadership compound in Tehran, an attack he said exploited a security vulnerability that remains unaddressed to this day. He said that immediately after learning of the strike, plans were already in motion to close the Strait of Hormuz if Iran’s supreme leader had been targeted, and that he personally contacted regional foreign ministries to warn that Iran would strike US military bases in response. When asked whether he had personally met Iran’s new supreme leader since the transition of power, Araghchi said he had not yet met him in person, noting only a small number of people have had direct access so far.

Foreign Minister Says US and Israel Misjudged the Conflict

Araghchi argued that American and Israeli leadership made two significant miscalculations throughout the conflict: starting the war in the first place, and underestimating the level of resistance Iran would mount. He said Israeli leadership had expected a short strike to end matters quickly, but when that failed to happen, both countries were ultimately forced to halt their offensive.