Wednesday, 27 May 2026
Iran refuses to negotiate with US amid Israeli attacks
TEHRAN/TEL AVIV (News Wires) - Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected any negotiations with the United States while Israel continues its attacks on Iran, in an interview with state TV broadcast on Friday.
“The Americans have repeatedly sent messages calling seriously for negotiations. But we have made clear that as long as the aggression does not stop, there will be no place for diplomacy and dialogue,” said the chief diplomat, who was due in Geneva for talks with his European counterparts, according to AFP.
Araghchi has firmly rejected any negotiations about the country’s missile capabilities, emphasizing that Iran will never compromise on its defensive capacities.
In remarks reported by Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, Araghchi made it clear that Iran’s missile programme is "designed to defend our country and provide deterrence," and stressed, "Iran will never negotiate or give up its defensive capabilities."
Araghchi’s comments came amid ongoing tensions in the region and increasing international pressure, especially from the United States, for Iran to discuss its military programme. He stated that Iran sees these pressures as unacceptable, particularly in the context of the ongoing Israeli conflict.
"We do not seek to negotiate with any party while the Israeli aggression continues," Araghchi said, noting that the United States has recently sent messages urging Iran to begin talks. However, he insisted, "Unless this aggression is halted, there is no room for dialogue or diplomacy."
He concluded by highlighting Iran’s "legitimate right to self-defence" and reiterated that the country "will not engage in any talks with the United States, which is complicit in Israeli actions. We have not had any dialogue or contact with the Americans, and we will not do so under the current circumstances."
Israel and Iran exchanged strikes a week into their war Friday as President Donald Trump weighed US military involvement and new diplomatic efforts appeared to be underway.
Trump has been weighing whether to attack Iran by striking its well-defended Fordo uranium enrichment facility, which is buried under a mountain and widely considered to be out of reach of all but America’s “bunker-buster” bombs, AP reported.
He said he’ll decide within two weeks whether the U.S. military will get directly involved in the war given the “substantial chance” for renewed negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Israel said it conducted airstrikes into Friday morning in Iran with more than 60 aircraft hitting what it said were industrial sites to manufacture missiles. It did not elaborate on the locations. It also said it hit the headquarters of Iran’s Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research, known by its acronym in Farsi, SPND. The U.S. in the past has linked that agency to alleged Iranian research and testing tied to the possible development of nuclear explosive devices.
Israeli airstrikes reached into the city of Rasht on the Caspian Sea Friday, Iranian media reported. The Israeli military had warned the public to flee the area around Rasht’s Industrial City, southwest of the city’s downtown. But with Iran’s internet shut off to the outside world, it’s unclear just how many people could see the message.
In Israel, the paramedic service Magen David Adom said missiles struck a residential area in southern Israel causing damage to buildings, including one six-story building. They have provided medical treatment to five people with minor injuries such as bruises, smoke inhalation, and anxiety, it said.
This comes a day after at least 80 patients and medical workers were wounded in a strike on the Soroka Medical Center in the southern city of Beersheba.
Israel’s defense minister threatened Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after the Iranian missile crashed into the hospital. Israel’s military “has been instructed and knows that in order to achieve all of its goals, this man absolutely should not continue to exist,” Defense Minister Israel Katz said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he trusted that Trump would “do what’s best for America.” Speaking from the rubble and shattered glass around the hospital, he added: “I can tell you that they’re already helping a lot.”
The war between Israel and Iran erupted June 13 with Israeli airstrikes targeting nuclear and military sites, top generals and nuclear scientists. At least 657 people, including 263 civilians, have been killed in Iran and more than 2,000 wounded, according to a Washington-based Iranian human rights group.