Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi published an op-ed in The Washington Post where he addressed President Trump’s announcement of direct talks, emphasizing Iran’s willingness to secure a deal and trade with the U.S. while also noting that the talks are indirect:
“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.”
Araghchi further noted that “To move forward today, we first need to agree that there can be no “military option,” let alone a “military solution.” President Trump clearly recognizes this reality in urging a ceasefire as the first course of action to end the Ukraine conflict.”
On the possibility of trade with the United States, Araghchi said “Many in Washington portray Iran as a closed country from an economic point of view. The truth is that we are open to welcoming businesses from around the world. It is the U.S. administrations and congressional impediments, not Iran, that have kept American enterprises away from the trillion-dollar opportunity that access to our economy represents. Indeed, when the United States agreed to license the sale of passenger aircraft as a part of the JCPOA, Iran immediately negotiated a contract with Boeing to buy 80 planes. To say that the scope for trade and investment in Iran is unparalleled is an understatement.”