Iran rejects talks with US amid military ‘Threats’

Iran has rejected holding negotiations with the United States if Washington continues to issue military threats, following remarks by US President Donald Trump refusing to rule out military intervention over Tehrans deadly crackdown on protests. The rejection came as a US naval strike group led by an aircraft carrier moved into Middle Eastern waters, prompting heightened regional tension and intensified diplomatic activity by Iranian officials. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said diplomacy could not succeed under the shadow of military pressure. Conducting diplomacy through military threat cannot be effective or useful, Araghchi said in televised comments.If they want negotiations to take shape, they must certainly set aside threats, excessive demands and raising illogical issues, he added. Araghchi also said he has had no contact with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff in recent days and stressed that Iran has not sought negotiations. The United States has increased its military presence in the region after Trump declined to rule out the use of force in response to Irans violent suppression of nationwide protests. US Central Command confirmed that a strike group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln has arrived in Middle Eastern waters, without disclosing its exact location. Analysts say Washingtons options range from limited strikes on military facilities to targeted attacks against Irans leadership in a bid to dismantle the system that has ruled the country since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Amid the escalating standoff, Iran has reached out to key Arab states allied with the United States in an apparent effort to rally regional support. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, while the Secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, held talks with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. Qatar said it supports all efforts aimed at reducing escalation and achieving peaceful solutions in a manner that enhances security and stability in the region. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty also held separate conversations with both Araghchi and Witkoff, stressing the need to ease tensions and work towards de-escalation and create conditions for dialogue between Washington and Tehran. Meanwhile, rights groups say the scale of Irans crackdown continues to grow. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said it has verified 6,221 deaths linked to the protests, including 5,856 protesters, 100 minors, 214 security personnel and 49 bystanders. The group said it is still investigating an additional 17,091 possible fatalities. At least 42,324 people have been arrested, according to the group, which warned that security forces are continuing raids, searching hospitals for wounded protesters, arresting doctors accused of helping demonstrators, and broadcasting forced confessions on state television. These developments highlight new dimensions of the continued security crackdown in the aftermath of the protests, the group said. In a separate development, Iran announced the execution of a man arrested in April 2025 on charges of spying for Israels intelligence agency, Mossad. Rights groups say at least 12 people have been executed on similar charges since last year and have expressed concern that protesters could also face capital punishment. The post Iran rejects talks with US amid military Threats appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.