Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday that his country wants to avoid war, but is "prepared" for it, noting that Iran's current tactic is to engage only in indirect negotiations with the United States.
"The policies of the Islamic Republic, especially in recent years, have shown that we are not seeking war. We are not afraid and are prepared for any situation. But we are not heading for war and we avoid it as much as possible. Because war has its costs, risks, and losses," Araghchi said, adding that "in a situation where there is maximum pressure, no sane and intelligent person would enter into direct negotiations."
The minister also claimed that US President Donald Trump "abandoned many of the conventional formats of diplomacy and behaves in his own style" and noted that the reason for refusing direct negotiations with the US is due to "history, experience, and precedent, not due to stubbornness."
