Iran Questions U.S. Trust After Israel Attack

Updated June 21, 2025

Iran is unsure whether it can trust the United ‍States in diplomatic talks following‍ an Israeli aerial attack, according to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.⁢ The ‍attack occurred⁣ days before scheduled negotiations with ​U.S.officials.

Araghchi said it is indeed up to the Trump management to demonstrate its commitment to a negotiated solution regarding ⁤Iran’s nuclear program. He suggested that Washington might not be ⁤genuinely interested in diplomacy and used talks as a cover for the Israeli air attack. This raises ⁤concerns about the future of Iran-US relations and the potential for ⁤a diplomatic resolution.

Araghchi stated that Iran ⁢is ready to negotiate, but Israel must first cease its‌ aerial attacks. “We’re not prepared to negotiate with them anymore, as long as the aggression continues,” he said. He also reiterated that Iran would not abandon uranium ⁤enrichment, a stance he claims to have made clear to U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff.

“I told him several times zero enrichment is impractical,” Araghchi said,emphasizing Iran’s right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes. “This⁢ is an achievement of our own scientists.​ It’s a question of national pride and‌ dignity.”

Araghchi also‍ commented on steve Witkoff, suggesting he was unable to deliver on previous discussions. “I think he is a gentleman,somebody⁤ you ‌can work with,but sadly,he changed his words every time‌ we met. So maybe that was because‍ he couldn’t deliver what he promised⁢ to us,”‍ Araghchi said.

Despite⁢ the ⁤challenges, Araghchi⁣ said he and Witkoff continue‌ to communicate to⁣ prevent⁢ misunderstandings. “There are some direct messages, some indirect messages we’re ‍exchanging,” he said. “And we have explained each other’s positions ⁤to each other​ in order to prevent misunderstandings.”

Araghchi ⁣stated that bombing Iran’s nuclear facilities would not destroy the technical knowledge iran ‍has developed. “Suppose ‍they destroy one facility or two,” he said.”We⁢ can rebuild them, because the knowledge is here, the technology is there. We have achieved that ourselves, and the technology cannot be reversed, cannot be destroyed by bombs.”

He warned that if the U.S. joins⁣ Israel⁤ in attacks, Iran would retaliate. “when there is a war, both sides attack each other. ⁢That’s ⁣quite understandable. And self-defense⁤ is a legitimate right of every country,” Araghchi said. he added that “if the U.S.‌ joins Israel in these attacks, we will do the‌ same.”

Addressing potential threats against Iran’s supreme leader, ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Araghchi said such an act “would be the biggest crime they can commit” but that “they won’t be able to ‍do that.”

araghchi dismissed Trump’s comments about Khamenei as ​an insult. “I see it more as an insult. And I’m amazed how the ​president of the so-called ‍superpower can talk like this. We have always talked about President Trump respectfully,” he ‍said.

To revive negotiations, Araghchi said⁢ Washington needs to instruct Israel to ⁣halt its⁢ airstrikes. “I think if Americans are serious to go back to diplomacy, what it ⁤needs is only a telephone call from Washington to Tel Aviv to stop everything,” he said.

Araghchi dismissed ⁢the possibility⁣ of the ⁣Iranian regime collapsing due to Israeli bombardment, citing ⁢Iran’s history of independence and resilience. “we ⁤are a great ‌nation.​ We have lived … for thousands of years in that place. We have ​never been a colony of any other ⁤power. We have been always independent,” he said.

What’s next

The future of Iran-US ​relations hinges ​on de-escalation and ‌a renewed commitment to ⁤diplomacy.Whether the U.S. can reassure Iran and halt further Israeli attacks remains to be ⁣seen, impacting regional stability and the potential for a nuclear agreement.