Araghchi calls US outreach a positive step but rules out a meeting for now; Iranian delegation in Qatar over Hormuz proposal

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said a United States effort to open dialogue with Tehran is a positive step, but told Al Jazeera on Saturday that there are currently no plans for meetings with US officials.

Araghchi said Iran had studied a letter sent by US Vice President JD Vance in high-level meetings and set out Tehran's conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which he said would pave the way for renewed negotiations with Washington.

An Iranian delegation has travelled to Doha, a day after Qatari mediators were in Tehran. Araghchi said one of his aides is in Qatar to continue consultations, and that talks with Qatari mediators had shortened the time needed to implement Iran's proposal to reopen the strait.

He said the Qatari side proposed shortening the implementation period of the Iranian proposal to five days, and a stage has now been reached where the implementation period is reduced to two days.

Araghchi warned that if Washington's goal in sending the letter is to stir up discord, it would be yet another mistake to add to its previous ones. Talk of upcoming meetings, he said, is merely media speculation. In his words, Iran sees no need to meet the Americans at this stage; its conditions are clear and mediators are continuing consultations regarding them.

Iran's conditions include lifting the sanctions imposed following the Islamabad memorandum, reducing US forces in the region, restoring oil waivers and releasing all of Iran's frozen funds, including those held in Qatar. Tehran is also demanding recognition of shipping routes through the strait discussed with Oman and the closure of other routes, he said.

He said mediators have presented proposals concerning the nuclear dossier, which Tehran is currently reviewing as part of the second phase, and that Qatari and Pakistani mediators are continuing consultations regarding Iran's conditions.

In the same interview Araghchi said Iran does not rule out the possibility of an attack against it, but is prepared for all scenarios if war breaks out. He said Iran has upgraded its weaponry, addressed its vulnerabilities and tested new arms, and that its forces are at the highest level of readiness.

Araghchi acknowledged that US economic sanctions are affecting Iran's economy, but said Tehran will not surrender to the Americans under this pressure. In his words, Iran will stand firm in its position, keep resisting and get through this difficult period with its own capabilities.