'No talks until Israeli aggression stops': Iran rejects nuclear dialogue with US after Trump sets deadline; Europe pushes to revive diplomacy

Iran has firmly ruled out any negotiations over its nuclear programme while under attack by Israel, rejecting repeated outreach efforts from the United States, after President Donald Trump gave a two-week deadline for possible dialogue.Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Friday that talks with Washington were off the table “until Israeli aggression stops.”“Americans want to negotiate and have sent messages several times, but we clearly said that as long as this aggression doesn’t stop, there’s no place for talk of dialogue,” he said in an address on state television,” Araqchi stated on state television.He also accused the United States of being complicit, calling it a “partner to Israeli crime against Iran.”

The remarks come just a day after Trump said he would decide “within the next two weeks” whether to join Israel in striking Iran.“Based on the fact that there’s a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks,” Trump said in a statement.Despite Tehran’s public refusal to talk, Araqchi later arrived in Geneva for discussions with European foreign ministers.

The meeting involving representatives from France, Germany, the UK, and the EU’s foreign policy chief, is part of Europe’s effort to bring Iran back to the negotiating table and avoid further escalation over its nuclear programme.Ahead of the meeting, diplomats said Araqchi would be told that the U.S. remains open to direct negotiations. However, hopes for a breakthrough remain low, as per diplomats.According to a senior Iranian official quoted by Reuters, Iran is willing to discuss limits on uranium enrichment, but will not accept a complete ban, "especially now under Israel's strikes".Meanwhile, the conflict between Iran and Israel has entered its second week. Israel claimed it struck dozens of targets overnight, including missile factories, military facilities, and a research centre linked to nuclear weapons development in Tehran.Iran launched missiles towards Beersheba early on Friday, with Israeli media reporting subsequent missile impacts in Tel Aviv, the Negev and Haifa following later attacks.An Israeli military representative confirmed approximately 20 missiles were launched in recent strikes. Israeli emergency services reported at least two people injured in the latest wave of attacks.Israel launched its assault on Iran last Friday, citing concerns that Tehran was close to acquiring nuclear weapons. Iran, insisting its nuclear programme is peaceful, responded with a series of missile and drone attacks on Israeli targets.