Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi, told reporters on Tuesday that he has been on the receiving end of direct messages from U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, but he was at pains to stress that such exchanges should not be interpreted as negotiations. The statements were reported by Qatar's Al Jazeera TV.
Araqchi said the communications he received included content he characterized as either threats or exchanged viewpoints. He said those messages were not delivered in person but passed through intermediaries he referred to as "friends." Araqchi made clear that while the envoy's messages reached him directly, they did not represent formal talks between Tehran and Washington.
In the same remarks, Araqchi told the broadcaster that Iran stands ready for any ground confrontation. He did not elaborate further on operational details or specify scenarios, instead affirming Tehran's preparedness in general terms as presented in the report.
Turning to Tehran's relations with neighboring countries, Araqchi acknowledged that restoring trust in the region will pose difficulties going forward. Despite that caveat, he expressed confidence that Iran will be able to succeed in rebuilding those relationships over time.
The account of Araqchi's comments as cited by Al Jazeera conveys three central points: that direct messages arrived from a U.S. special envoy; that Araqchi views those communications as distinct from negotiations; and that Iran signals readiness for potential ground confrontation while recognizing future diplomatic challenges with neighbors but remaining optimistic about eventual reconciliation.
Public remarks of this nature, as reported, offer a snapshot of current diplomatic signaling without indicating any formal negotiation process. Araqchi's characterization of intermediated messages and his emphasis on preparedness and confidence in long-term regional engagement were the primary elements relayed in the report.
Summary of reported statements:
- Direct messages received from U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, per Araqchi's account.
- Araqchi described those messages as threats or exchanged views delivered through intermediaries he called "friends."
- He said Tehran is ready for any ground confrontation and acknowledged challenges ahead in rebuilding trust with neighboring countries, while expressing confidence in eventual success.