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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iran's foreign minister on Friday downplayed the possibility of American military action against the Islamic republic, but said they stand ready 'for both threats and diplomacy' as Washington opens the door to new nuclear negotiations, state media reported.
'Anyone who speaks to the Iranian people with the language of threats will receive the same response,' Abbas Araghchi told Iran's state-owned Al-Alam news network. 'We are fully ready for both threats and diplomacy.'
On Friday, United States President Donald Trump said his preference is to negotiate with Tehran on the nuclear file, but cautioned that 'bad things' would happen if no agreement is made.
'We can either have to talk and talk it out, or very bad things are going to happen to Iran,' he warned.
On March 7, Trump told Fox Business that he had sent a letter to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei signaling openness to new nuclear negotiations, but threatened possible military action if Iran refuses to cooperate stating, 'If we have to go in militarily, it's going to be a terrible thing for them.'
The letter was delivered to Tehran through an Emirati emissary.
Araghchi dismissed the possibility of direct talks with Washington but said that indirect talks 'can continue if necessary.'
Under a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, Iran agreed to curb its nuclear enrichment program in exchange for much-needed relief from crippling sanctions. The deal began unraveling in 2018 when Trump, during his first term, unilaterally withdrew the US from the accord and reimposed biting sanctions on Iran.
Tehran waited a year and then gradually ramped up its nuclear activities.
After returning to office, Trump in early February restored his maximum pressure policy on Tehran, arguing that it is 'too close' to a nuclear weapon.
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