“PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH”
Araghchi’s comments came after US lead negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visited the nuclear-powered USS Abraham Lincoln on Saturday, the US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) said.
In a social media post, Witkoff said the aircraft carrier and its strike group was “keeping us safe and upholding President Trump’s message of peace through strength”.
The threat of war continues to hover over the negotiations, even as Trump called the talks “very good” and Iran’s President, Masoud Pezeshkian, said they “constitute a step forward”.
Following Friday’s first round in Oman, Trump signed an executive order calling for the “imposition of tariffs” on countries still doing business with Iran despite US sanctions.
The United States also announced new sanctions against numerous shipping entities and vessels, aimed at curbing Iran’s oil exports.
At the Tehran forum on Sunday, Araghchi called into question the United States’ commitment to diplomacy.
“The continuation of certain sanctions and military actions raises doubts about the seriousness and readiness of the other side to conduct genuine negotiations,” he said.
“We are monitoring the situation closely, assessing all the signals and will decide on the continuation of the negotiations.”