Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday urged the United States to engage seriously in diplomacy, saying there was “no military solution” to issues involving Iran, as he spoke in New Delhi after attending the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting.
Araghchi said Tehran was prepared to keep the door open to negotiations despite deep mistrust of Washington and framed the current pause in hostilities as fragile but useful for talks.
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Told BRICS FMs summit: Iran's resistance against U.S. bullying is not an unfamiliar battle. So many of us encounter slight variations of same repugnant coercion. High time for us to jointly step up and work towards making clear that those practices belong in dustbin of history. https://t.co/9iyyxMfR55
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) May 15, 2026
Open to talks despite deep mistrust
“The negotiations between the countries are suffering from trust,” he said, following a meeting of the BRICS foreign ministers, adding, “We have no trust in Americans.”
He also said that Iran had “every reason not to trust the US while Americans have every reason to trust us,” according to NDTV’s report from the press conference.
Araghchi maintained that the Islamic Republic did not see a military path out of the crisis and said Tehran would continue to resist pressure and sanctions.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a BRICS member state with “special relations” with Israel had blocked the meeting’s final statement, calling it “very unfortunate.” He said Iran had no quarrel with the country itself and had targeted only US military sites on its… pic.twitter.com/j8uBvSfvH7
— Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) May 15, 2026
No joint statement amid divisions
The comments came against the backdrop of a divided BRICS meeting in New Delhi, where foreign ministers were unable to issue a joint statement because members disagreed over the conflict in the Middle East.
Reuters reported that Iran pressed BRICS countries to condemn the US and Israel, while host India later issued a chair’s statement instead.
Internal differences within the expanded bloc surfaced sharply over the war in Iran and wider regional tensions.
Backing diplomacy but will not bow to threats
Araghchi said a “shaky” ceasefire was in place because Iran wanted to give diplomacy a chance.
He told reporters that the country would not bow to threats, saying, “Iranian people only answer to the language of respect.”
He also said India could play a “greater role” in easing tensions in the Middle East and welcomed constructive involvement from New Delhi as well as support from China.
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Iran will protect shipping interests
The Iranian minister also addressed the Strait of Hormuz, describing the situation there as “very complicated” and saying Iran was ready to help neutral shipping pass through the waterway, while keeping a restrictive stance toward vessels from countries at war with Iran.
This underscores the strategic risks around one of the world’s most important energy routes.
