Iran says ready for fair' talks with US but not under shadow of threats'

"I should also state unequivocally that Iran's defensive and missile capabilities and Iran's missiles will never be the subject of any negotiations, Araghchi said during a news conference alongside his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan. The security of the Iranian people is no one else's business, and we will preserve and expand our defensive capabilities to whatever extent is necessary to defend the country."

"Earlier this week, the US president said a massive armada led by the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier was moving towards Iran and was ready to use violence, if necessary if Iranian leaders did not agree to negotiate a nuclear deal. Speaking to reporters at the White House on Friday, Trump said his administration was sending a larger number of ships to Iran."

Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said Iran is ready for fair and equitable talks with the United States but that negotiations cannot take place under threats. He stated unequivocally that Iran's defensive and missile capabilities will never be the subject of negotiations and that Iran will preserve and expand those capabilities as necessary to defend the country. Tensions have risen after US threats related to a crackdown on antigovernment protests and efforts to curb Iran's nuclear program. President Donald Trump said the US was sending a larger number of ships, including an armada led by the USS Abraham Lincoln, and refused to rule out military action while keeping an unspecified deadline for Iran.

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