Iran demands end to war before nuclear talks as FM Araghchi set to attend India BRICS meeting

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei has highlighted the Islamic Republic's firm stance on nuclear negotiations with the United States, saying ending the war and the removal of the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz are prerequisites to any discussions.

Baghaei made the remarks during an interview with India Today Global on Tuesday, saying the US demands “complete surrender” rather than a genuine dialogue. 

He said Washington’s approach is to impose its will, not to engage in a real political give-and-take.

He also stated that responsibility for the closure of the Strait of Hormuz lies with the United States, and that a naval blockade constitutes an act of war under international law. 

The criminal US-Israeli aggression against Iran began on February 28 with airstrikes that assassinated senior Iranian officials and commanders, including the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

Iranian armed forces responded by launching daily missile and drone operations targeting locations in the Israeli-occupied territories as well as US military bases and assets across the region.

Furthermore, Iran retaliated against the strikes by closing the Strait of Hormuz, which resulted in a significant increase in oil prices and its by-products.

On April 8, forty days into the war, a Pakistan-brokered temporary ceasefire between Iran and the US took effect.

Negotiations ensued in Islamabad but stopped short of an agreement amid Washington’s maximalist demands and insistence on unreasonable positions.

Since then, Iran has categorically refused to rejoin the process unless the US lifts an illegal blockade it has imposed on Iranian vessels and ports.

Tehran has also asserted that, as long as the blockade is still in place, it has no intention of reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Araghchi to attend BRICS summit in India

Elsewhere in his remarks, Baghaei announced that Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi plans to travel to India to attend the summit of the BRICS foreign ministers.

Later in a statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry confirmed the trip to New Delhi. 

According to the statement, Araghchi will attend the gathering on Thursday and Friday, which will be chaired by India and focus on “regional stability, multilateral cooperation, and economic resilience.”

During the visit, the Foreign Ministry said, the minister “will hold talks and exchange views” with his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar as well as other ministers and officials attending the meeting.

The statement described the meeting as “a prelude” to the 18th BRICS summit, scheduled to be held in New Delhi in September under India’s chairmanship.

Iran and India are members of BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), noted Baghaei, adding that the Islamic Republic has a good level of cooperation in both organizations.

Baghaei said bilateral meetings will be held at the BRICS summit, particularly with India’s External Affairs Minister. 

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