Monday, February 9, 2026- Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has forcefully rejected pressure from the United States in ongoing nuclear negotiations, declaring that Tehran’s strength lies in its willingness to stand firm and say “no” to great powers.
At a diplomatic summit in Tehran, Araghchi framed resistance to U.S. demands as the core of the Islamic Republic’s diplomatic leverage and insisted Iran will not concede on key issues such as uranium enrichment or its broader nuclear rights. He even used the metaphor of an “atomic bomb” to describe Iranian power, asserting that Tehran’s real force comes from its refusal to bow to external domination or intimidation.
The remarks came just days after indirect talks between Iran and U.S. negotiators in Muscat, Oman, underscored a fragile and tense diplomatic backdrop. While Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian described those discussions as a “step forward,” Araghchi’s rhetoric emphasized deep reluctance to accept what Tehran views as unequal terms or demands tied to U.S. strategic pressure. He underscored that Iran’s right to enrich uranium will never be surrendered and that military deployments, including a significant U.S. naval presence in the region, do not deter Tehran’s resolve.
Analysts say the hardening of Iran’s position signals significant hurdles ahead for negotiations and raises the prospect that future talks could collapse into deeper confrontation rather than compromise. With both sides maintaining firm red lines — Iran on sovereignty and enrichment, and the U.S. on halting enrichment and curbing missile and proxy programs — the coming weeks may determine whether diplomacy can outpace mounting regional tensions.
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