Iran will not be intimidated by US military movements, Abbas Araqchi

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi responded to US military activities in the Gulf region, saying that the US display of power cannot intimidate Iran, while recent talks in Muscat were limited to nuclear issues. Speaking at a forum in Tehran on Sunday, Araqchi said the US military buildup in the region would not be a cause for concern for Iran. According to the French news agency, he stated that Iran is also a diplomatic nation and has the capability to defend itself if necessary, but this does not mean that Tehran is seeking war.

He clarified that the Muscat talks only discussed the nuclear file and that he had only shaken hands with US President Donald Trump's special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Vettigoff, and did not have an official meeting. According to him, the main difference between the current talks and those in 2005 is that regional countries are now more involved.

The Iranian Foreign Minister further said that US military movements raise questions about Washington's seriousness regarding negotiations. It is worth noting that US envoys Steve Vettigoff and Jared Kushner recently visited the aircraft carrier "Abraham Lincoln" in the Arabian Gulf, near Iran, where Vettigoff reiterated President Trump's message of "peace through strength".

It is clear that the indirect talks between the US and Iran in Muscat were the first official diplomatic progress since 2024. After the talks, US President Donald Trump described the conversation as positive, while Abbas Araqchi also described the atmosphere as constructive. However, he warned that if the US were to attack Iran, Tehran has the capability to target US bases in the region.