PARIS, France, Feb 7, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas 
Araghchi said on Saturday he hoped talks with the United States would resume 
soon, while reiterating Tehran's red lines and warning against any American 
attack.

According to excerpts published on his official Telegram channel during an 
interview with the Al Jazeera network, Araghchi said that Iran's missile 
programme was "never negotiable" in Friday's talks in Oman.

He warned that Tehran would target US bases in the region if the US attacked 
Iranian territory.

However, Araghchi also said that despite the talks in Muscat being indirect, 
"an opportunity arose to shake hands with the American delegation".

He called the talks "a good start", but added that building trust would take 
time. He said the talks would resume "soon".

US President Donald Trump on Friday called the talks "very good", and pledged 
another round of negotiations next week.

Despite this, he signed an executive order effective from Saturday that 
called for the "imposition of tariffs" on countries still doing business with 
Iran.

The United States also announced new sanctions against numerous shipping 
entities and vessels, aimed at curbing Iran's oil exports.

More than a quarter of Iran's trade is with China, with $18 billion in 
imports and $14.5 billion in exports in 2024, according to World Trade 
Organization data.

Araghchi told Al Jazeera that nuclear enrichment was Iran's "inalienable 
right and must continue".

- 'Defence issue' -

"We are ready to reach a reassuring agreement on enrichment," he said.

"The Iranian nuclear case will only be resolved through negotiations."

He also said Iran's missile programme was "never negotiable" because it 
relates to a "defence issue".

Washington has sought to address Iran's ballistic missile programme and its 
support for militant groups in the region -- issues which Israel has pushed 
to include in the talks, according to media reports.

Tehran has repeatedly rejected expanding the scope of the negotiations beyond 
the nuclear issue.

Friday's unprecedented talks between the two arch enemies came amid a major 
US military buildup in the region in the wake of Iran's crackdown on protests 
that began in late December, driven by economic grievances.

Aragchi warned that Iran "will attack their (US) bases in the region" if 
Washington targets Iranian territory.

The negotiations were the first since nuclear talks between Iran and the 
United States collapsed last year following Israel's unprecedented bombing 
campaign against Iran, which triggered a 12-day war.

During the war US warplanes bombed Iranian nuclear sites.

Araghci told Al Jazeera that if attacked again, "we will attack their bases 
in the region", referring to the United States.

The authorities in Iran have acknowledged that 3,117 people were killed in 
the recent protests, publishing on Sunday a list of 2,986 names, most of whom 
they say were members of the security forces and innocent bystanders.

International organisations have put the toll far higher.

- Protests toll -

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), which has kept a 
running toll since the onset of the protests, says it has verified 6,872 
deaths, mainly of protesters, and has another 11,280 cases under 
investigation. It has also counted more than 50,000 arrests.

At Friday's talks in Oman the US delegation was led by Trump's Middle East 
envoy Steve Witkoff and his influential son-in-law Jared Kushner.

"In a very positive atmosphere, our arguments were exchanged and the views of 
the other side were shared with us," Araghchi told Iranian state TV after the 
talks, adding that the two sides had "agreed to continue negotiations".

Speaking to the official IRNA news agency, Araghchi expressed hope that 
Washington would refrain from "threats and pressure" so that "the talks can 
continue".

On Saturday, Araghci criticised what he labelled a "doctrine of domination" 
that allows Israel to expand its military arsenal while pressuring other 
states in the region to disarm.

He was speaking at the Al Jazeera Forum conference in Qatar, but in his 
speech made no reference to Friday's talks in Oman with the United States.