Iranian Foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has offered a glimpse into the tense atmosphere surrounding his discussions with US President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, saying the possibility of an attack was never far from their minds.
Speaking in an interview with Iranian outlet Mehr News, shared by a Russian news channel, Araghchi recalled asking Witkoff, “a chance of being bombed at any moment”. He said he had asked the US envoy whether he had ever taken part in negotiations under such conditions. However, Araghchi did not specify which round of talks or location he was referring to.
'I asked Witkoff, have you ever been in a meeting where there was a chance of being BOMBED at any moment?'
— RT Intl (@RT_on_X) July 19, 2026
Araghchi adds Iran wasn’t scared by US threats:
'This isn’t Venezuela where you take 1 person and everyone else gets scared and backs down' https://t.co/f8tvFK1SN4 pic.twitter.com/Selj3ZY1a0
Talks continued despite tensions
According to Araghchi, communication with Witkoff has continued intermittently since the two first established contact during last year’s nuclear talks. Tehran has maintained that these exchanges should not be viewed as formal negotiations.
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The diplomatic channel has spanned several countries. The first round of indirect talks took place in Muscat on February 6, with Omani officials acting as intermediaries before the two sides briefly met in person. More rounds followed in Muscat and Rome, while another meeting was later held in Geneva. A fifth round had been planned in Europe before the conflict escalated.
In April, Araghchi travelled to Islamabad, Muscat and Moscow for another planned meeting with Witkoff and Jared Kushner, with Pakistani officials acting as mediators. Apart from these meetings, the two sides also remained in touch through direct text messages.
Remarks come amid political pressure
Araghchi’s comments come as he faces criticism both internationally and within Iran. During the interview, he stressed that Iran would not respond to pressure the way Venezuela allegedly did.
He said Iran was “not Venezuela”, where the US could seize “one person” and expect the country’s leadership to collapse. The remarks referred to the reported US operation involving Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, an incident Tehran has repeatedly cited while defending its own political structure.
The interview also comes at a time when the ceasefire framework brokered between Washington and Tehran in June has effectively broken down.
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Regional tensions remain high
According to Bloomberg, the US has reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports, while Iran has declared the Strait of Hormuz closed. Although both sides have indicated that military strikes are less intense than during the peak of the conflict in February and March, tensions remain high.
At home, Araghchi is also facing criticism from hardline groups. Reports have claimed he was targeted by protesters during the funeral procession of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Hardliners have accused Araghchi and other senior leaders of pursuing the June agreement without the backing of the country’s current supreme leader, while Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has defended negotiations, saying they are “not tantamount to compromise” and are part of what he described as the strategy of resistance.
FAQs:
What did Abbas Araghchi tell Steve Witkoff during their talks?
He said he asked whether Witkoff had ever negotiated with “a chance of being bombed at any moment.”
Why are Araghchi’s remarks significant now?
They come amid renewed tensions between the US and Iran and growing political pressure on him within Iran.
