Iran FM says pursue US talks 'even if only 10% chance'

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Sunday that negotiations with the United States should be pursued “even if the chances of success are only 10%,” arguing that diplomatic engagement remains less costly than continued military confrontation. Speaking in a televised interview, Araghchi emphasized that Tehran had multiple objectives in seeking talks with Washington, including the possibility of achieving Iranian demands through peaceful means. “The negotiations had several objectives. One was that we might find a way through negotiations to achieve our demands, and we should not miss that opportunity,” he said.

Araghchi noted that war carries inherent risks and expenses, stating that any nation would prefer negotiations if they offer a viable path to achieving strategic goals. “War has its own costs, and if any country can achieve its objectives through negotiations, it will certainly prefer that less dangerous and less costly path,” he added. The minister stressed that maintaining diplomatic channels serves both practical and symbolic purposes for the Islamic Republic.

Establishing Iran's case

The foreign minister explained that Iran considered negotiations worthwhile even with minimal prospects for success in order to demonstrate its commitment to peaceful resolution. “We said that perhaps, even with a 10% chance, we could reach an outcome other than war through negotiations, and we had to try that opportunity,” Araghchi said. He added that such efforts were necessary to present Tehran's position clearly before domestic and international audiences.

“We might not achieve a result, but at least we would have established our case before the enemy, the international community and our own people by demonstrating that we had tried every possible path,” Araghchi stated. The remarks come amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington following months of direct conflict.

Regional escalation

Regional tensions have escalated since the United States and Israel launched a joint offensive against Iran in February, prompting Tehran to retaliate with drone and missile strikes targeting Gulf nations hosting American military assets. Washington and Tehran reached a Pakistani-mediated memorandum of understanding last month aimed at ending hostilities and securing a lasting peace agreement, but clashes resumed last week over control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.