Iran will not engage in direct negotiations with the United States unless President Trump stops threatening it, its foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said on Friday.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to Istanbul, Mr. Araghchi said that talks to calm tensions between Iran and the United States had to be based on a “fair and equitable” approach and could not begin with threats.
President Trump has threatened military action against Iran, aimed at forcing it to agree to American demands that include a halt to its nuclear program, limits on its ballistic missiles and the end of its support to allied militias in the Arab world.
Mr. Trump, who has said that time is running out before he strikes Iran “with great power, enthusiasm and purpose,” is now considering options for an attack, U.S. officials have said.
Iran has vowed to retaliate against any American assaults. Experts suggest that it could target U.S. military bases or American partners like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Israel.
“Just as we are ready for negotiations, we are ready for warfare,” Mr. Araghchi said. He also ruled out any discussion of Iran’s ballistic missiles, calling them essential to its security.
“Iran’s missiles and defense systems will never be the subject of any negotiations,” he said, adding that he had no plans to meet in person with any American officials.
Few countries in the region, even those that oppose Iran’s leadership, have voiced support for American strikes, worrying that instability in Iran could draw in neighboring countries, potentially igniting a regional war. Those fears have fueled urgent international diplomacy aimed at de-escalation.
Turkey — which shares a border and diplomatic ties with Iran while its president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, maintains a cordial relationship with Mr. Trump — has offered its services as a go-between.
Speaking alongside Mr. Araghchi on Friday, the Turkish foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, said his country opposed any efforts to solve regional problems with military action.
“We defend negotiations and diplomacy,” he said. “While we are trying to heal the wounds of the past, opening another wound would not benefit anyone.”
Mr. Erdogan told his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, by telephone on Friday that Turkey was ready to mediate to “ease tensions and resolve issues” between the United States and Iran, Mr. Erdogan’s communications office said on social media.
The post added that Mr. Erdogan would meet with Mr. Araghchi.
Mr. Trump’s threats come at a sensitive time for Iran, which is dealing with the aftermath of weeks of antigovernment protests that the security forces crushed with overwhelming force. The government says more than 3,000 people were killed, but various human rights groups have said the death toll is much higher.
The protests were fueled by widespread disgruntlement over Iran’s sputtering economy, which has been dragged down by Western sanctions and mismanagement.
Safak Timur contributed reporting from Istanbul.
Ben Hubbard is the Istanbul bureau chief, covering Turkey and the surrounding region.
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