Iran Foreign Minister: Received "private letter" from US President's special envoy, but does not mean negotiations.

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, April 1st - Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi said in an interview broadcast on Qatar Peninsula TV on March 31st that he had received a message from US President Trump's envoy, but this does not mean that Iran is in talks with the United States. Claims of negotiations between the United States and Iran are not true. Araghchi said in the interview with Peninsula TV, "As always, I received a message directly from Mr. Witteckov, but this does not mean we are negotiating." He emphasized that claims of negotiations with either side of Iran are not true, "all information is transmitted or received through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and there is also communication between security agencies." Araghchi said that Iran has never had a "pleasant experience" in negotiations with the United States. Iran reached an agreement with the United States many years ago, but the United States withdrew from the agreement. "We do not believe that negotiating with the United States will have any results, and currently the level of trust is zero," he said. "We do not see any sincerity." The agreement Araghchi referred to is the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) reached in July 2015 between Iran and the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China, and Germany. Under the Iran nuclear agreement, Iran committed to limit its nuclear program, in exchange for the international community lifting sanctions on Iran. The US unilaterally withdrew from the agreement in 2018, and then reinstated and added a series of sanctions on Iran. After Trump returned to the White House in 2025, the US and Iran have indirectly negotiated several times. Iranian President Pezeshkizian said on March 31st that the United States does not believe in diplomacy, but only seeks to "issue orders to achieve its greedy aims." During negotiations with the United States, Iran has been attacked, which has happened twice. US Defense Secretary Haggis said at a press conference on March 31st that the United States hopes to reach an agreement with Iran to end hostilities and "open" the Strait of Hormuz, while also preparing for negotiations "during the bombing." In response to reports of possible US military ground attacks on Iran, Araghchi said on March 31st that the Iranian side is "waiting for them." "We are very clear on how to defend ourselves. Even in ground combat, we can do better." (Bao Xuelin)