Iran said on Monday it would not enter negotiations with the United States under pressure, as senior leaders warned that continued threats and economic blockades could push Tehran to pursue options beyond diplomacy.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said negotiations conducted “under the shadow of threats” were unacceptable, stressing that any dialogue with Washington must be based on equality and mutual respect.
“Pressure and coercion are major obstacles to meaningful negotiations,” Araghchi said, adding that Iran would not compromise its position in response to threats.
He signaled that Tehran has alternatives if talks fail, suggesting that sustained pressure from Washington could prompt responses outside the diplomatic sphere.
In a separate statement, Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf echoed the foreign minister’s remarks, accusing U.S. President Donald Trump of attempting to turn negotiations into what he described as a “surrender table.”
Tehran will not negotiate under “shadow of threats”, warns of new battlefield “cards” if talks with US fails
— Syed Abbas Araghchi (@Araghchhi) April 20, 2026
Ghalibaf said Iran would not accept talks held under threats and accused the United States of undermining diplomacy by imposing a blockade, which he said violated previous understandings and eroded trust.
He added that Iran had spent the past two weeks preparing what he described as new “battlefield options,” warning that Tehran was ready to reveal new “cards” if negotiations collapse.
“The combination of threats and negotiations does not lead to peace,” Ghalibaf said. “It risks justifying renewed conflict.”
The comments point to the rising tensions between Tehran and Washington as both sides weigh the possibility of renewed talks amid strained relations.
ترامپ با اعمال محاصره و نقض آتشبس میخواهد تا به خیال خود این میز مذاکره را به میز تسلیم تبدیل کند یا جنگافروزی مجدد را موجّه سازد.
مذاکره زیر سایهٔ تهدید را نمیپذیریم و در دو هفتهٔ اخیر برای رو کردن کارتهای جدید در میدان نبرد آماده شدهایم.— محمدباقر قالیباف | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) April 20, 2026
Earlier on Monday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said trust and adherence to commitments were essential for meaningful negotiations, while acknowledging a deep trust deficit between Iran and the United States.
In a message posted on social media, Pezeshkian said Iranians were fully aware of Washington’s past conduct and accused the United States of seeking to force Iran into submission. He said Iran would not yield under pressure under any circumstances.
Pezeshkian also described recent signals from the United States as contradictory and unconstructive, saying they sent a negative message at a time when diplomatic engagement was already fragile.
