Iran open to indirect nuclear talks with US

Iran announced on Monday that it is willing to engage in indirect talks with the United States regarding its nuclear program. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that direct negotiations are not possible unless the U.S. changes its approach towards Iran. He emphasized that Iran will not negotiate under threat or pressure. The discussion comes after President Donald Trump called for new nuclear negotiations and sent a letter to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Trump warned of potential military action if Iran does not cooperate. Khamenei responded by saying that U.S. threats would not be effective and claimed that Trump's outreach for talks was misleading. In previous years, Trump's administration had withdrawn from the Iran nuclear deal and imposed strict sanctions on the country. This deal, established in 2015, aimed to limit Iran's nuclear ambitions in exchange for lifting sanctions. Iran insists its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes and denies pursuing nuclear weapons. Araghchi stated that letters can be part of diplomacy but may also represent threats. He acknowledged that while diplomatic paths are still open, the alternative could lead to conflict. In a separate development, Iraq's oil minister accused Iran of using forged Iraqi documents for oil tankers stopped by U.S. forces. This follows the renewed pressure from Trump's administration to isolate Iran economically.