“We do not set any deadlines for defending ourselves. We will defend our country and our people as far as necessary and by any means required,” Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera.

Araghchi said Tehran is not engaged in direct negotiations with Washington, contradicting US claims of ongoing talks.

“Negotiation is when two countries engage in talks to reach an agreement, and such a thing does not exist between us and the United States,” he said, while acknowledging that messages have been exchanged indirectly through intermediaries.