TEHRAN, 01 April. - (ANA) - Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in an interview with Al Jazeera that messages have been exchanged with the US during the US-Israel war, but stressed this does not amount to negotiations, adding that Iran has never had a “good experience” negotiating with Washington.

 

“There is no truth to the claim of negotiations with any party in Iran. All messages are conveyed through the Foreign Ministry or received by it, and there are communications between security agencies,” he said.

 

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also said on Tuesday that the US does not believe in diplomacy, as Iran was attacked twice during negotiations with Washington, our colleagues at Al Jazeera Arabic reported.

 

Pezeshkian, who held a phone call with European Council President Antonio Costa on Tuesday, also said that while his country has the “necessary will” to end the ongoing war, guarantees are required to “prevent repetition of the aggression”.

 

In the Strait of Hormuz, Araghchi said the “reality” is that it lies within Oman’s and Iran’s territorial waters and is therefore ordinary to be used “strategically”.

 

“Only for the ships of those who are at war with us, this strait is closed. That is normal during war – we cannot let our enemies use our territorial waters for commerce,” he explained.

 

Amid reports of a possibility of a US ground operation in the country, the Iranian official reiterated that Tehran was not scared.

 

“We are waiting for them,” he said, adding: “I don’t think they’d dare to do such a thing. There will be a lot of strength waiting for them.”

 

“We know very well how to defend ourselves. In a ground war, we can do it even better. We are completely ready to confront any sort of ground attack. We hope they do not make such a mistake,” Araghchi said.

 

The foreign minister also clarified to Al Jazeera that Tehran has not yet responded to the 15-point proposal that was sent by the US, “nor have we submitted any proposals or conditions.”

 

Still, the Iranian foreign minister reiterated that Iran will only accept an end to all attacks in the region rather than a ceasefire.   - (ANA) - 

 

AB/ANA/01 April 2026 - - -