Iraqchi Again Rejects Direct Negotiations with the U.S.; Netanyahu Arrives in Washington

A few days after the President of the United States called for direct negotiations with Tehran to reach a nuclear agreement, Iran's Foreign Minister once again rejected direct talks with the U.S. Abbas Araghchi stated on Sunday, April 6, during a meeting of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Parliament: "We are for diplomacy and negotiation, but indirectly." According to Iranian media, Araghchi added: "It must be acknowledged that no negotiation rounds have been held so far." Donald Trump, the President of the United States, has called for negotiations with Tehran to reach a new nuclear agreement and has written a letter to Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, regarding this matter. On Thursday, Trump also called for direct negotiations, stating that this type of negotiation is faster and better than negotiations through intermediaries. Trump said: "Forget the letters; I think Iran wants direct dialogue." However, Abbas Araghchi stated in the parliamentary meeting that Iran has communicated the issue of indirect negotiations to the other side and will "cooperate with Oman" for the exchange of views between Iran and the U.S. based on previously established protocols. The Iranian Foreign Minister had also stated a night earlier in a meeting with ambassadors and diplomats residing in Tehran that direct negotiations under threat and pressure would be "meaningless." On Sunday, Reuters reported, citing a senior Iranian official, that at the order of Ali Khamenei, Iran's armed forces are on alert. This unnamed Iranian official also stated that Tehran has warned regional countries hosting U.S. military bases, including Iraq, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Turkey, and Bahrain, that any support for a potential U.S. attack would be considered a hostile act. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Washington on Sunday and is scheduled to meet and discuss with Donald Trump at the White House. The Israeli Prime Minister's office announced a day earlier that the leaders of the two countries would discuss "the threat from Iran" and other issues such as tariffs and the return of hostages. In recent days, Israeli media and other sources like Axios and Bloomberg have reported that Benjamin Netanyahu believes the likelihood of a nuclear agreement between the U.S. and Iran is very low, and he has gone to Washington to discuss an Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear facilities if diplomacy fails. According to Axios, Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu are expected to participate in a joint press conference at the end of their meeting at the White House. Trump has repeatedly emphasized that he will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons. Over the past two and a half months, he has also stated several times that Tehran must choose between military action or negotiations to reach a nuclear agreement, and he hopes an agreement will be reached. Iran claims it is not seeking to produce nuclear weapons; however, the International Atomic Energy Agency has warned that Tehran has significantly increased uranium enrichment to 60% and accelerated the accumulation of enriched uranium stocks. The Agency and Western countries have repeatedly warned that this level of enrichment has no precedent in any country without a nuclear bomb. On the other hand, officials of the Islamic Republic have frequently spoken of the possibility of "changing the nuclear doctrine" in recent months, and Ali Larijani, an advisor to Ali Khamenei, also stated last week that if targeted by military action, Iran would be "forced to go towards a bomb."