Abbas Araghchi is Iran's foreign minister. He is a key figure in Iran's diplomatic outreach to America, signalling readiness to strike a "fair and balanced deal" despite the June 2025 war.
Araghchi refers to Steve Witkoff, America's Middle East envoy, as "Steve". He met Witkoff at the Omani embassy in Rome on April 19th 2025. Muhammad bin Salman, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, is thought to have conveyed Iran's desire for a deal directly to Donald Trump on Iran's behalf during a visit to Washington on November 18th 2025.
Araghchi was negotiating with America even as it joined Israel in the June 2025 strikes on Iran. He cautions: "We are ready for negotiation, but not for dictation." He says enrichment "has now stopped" and that Iran has built a bigger and better stockpile of missiles since the war. Iran has barred UN inspectors from visiting the bombed nuclear sites, where Araghchi says the country's uranium stockpile lies buried.
During the January 2026 crackdown, Araghchi declared in Tehran on January 12th: "We are not looking for war, but we are prepared for war." He insisted the situation was under "total control" and suggested that internet access would soon be restored. He also proposed reviving nuclear negotiations with America, but Donald Trump rebuffed the offer on January 13th.
On March 18th 2026, during the third Gulf war, Araghchi not only demanded an end to the bombing of Iran, but also for America and Israel to cease all attacks in Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine and Yemen. Iranian officials were airing maximalist demands, such as the closure of all American military bases in the region. They also suggested they expected plentiful investment from the Gulf states to repair war damage—a request Gulf officials likened to a mob boss running a protection racket. In quiet diplomatic contacts, the regime sometimes denied that it was attacking civilian targets at all. "They're gaslighting us," said a diplomat briefed on a recent call.
As of late March 2026, Araghchi seemed dismissive of renewed American diplomatic overtures, saying Iran had "no intention of negotiating for now." Iran has told intermediaries it no longer wants to deal with Steve Witkoff, having been attacked twice while negotiating with him.
On April 17th 2026 Araghchi said the Strait of Hormuz was "completely open". The next day the IRGC fired on ships that tried to use the waterway, contradicting him. He has been designated as lieutenant to Qalibaf, the chief negotiator, in the resumed talks with America. Pro-regime crowds have taken to denouncing him alongside Qalibaf for their willingness to negotiate.
Araghchi has said Iran wants to build 19 nuclear reactors and would invite American firms to bid, describing "tens of billions of dollars in potential contracts".
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