Iran ready to negotiate with US

TEHRAN, Feb 09 (AFP): Iran was ready to negotiate with the United States but not under the "maximum pressure" strategy of US President Donald Trump, Tehran's chief diplomat suggested on Saturday.

"The lifting of sanctions requires negotiations, but not within the framework of a 'maximum pressure' policy, because it would not be a negotiation but a form of surrender," said Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in a statement published on Telegram.

The foreign minister's statement came after Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged the government not to negotiate with Washington, calling such an approach "reckless".