ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday denied reports suggesting that Tehran is preparing for a new round of nuclear talks with the US.

"I would like to state clearly that no agreement, arrangement or conversation has been made to start new negotiations. No plan has been set yet to start negotiations," Araghchi told Iran's state broadcaster.

Iran and the US had held five rounds of talks around the nuclear issue, with a sixth round scheduled, when an Israeli operation targeting Iran's nuclear facilities and top military officials derailed the process. Washington involved itself in the blitz towards the end of the 12-day conflict, using B-2 stealth bombers to target Iran's Fordow nuclear site before a ceasefire was brokered between the warring sides by the US President Donald Trump.

Non-Proliferation Treaty Withdrawal

Regarding Iran's potential withdrawal from the global Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the top diplomatic chief said that "whether we stay in the NPT or leave it or take another action must be based on examining the interests of the people and the country." Araghchi added that "whatever these interests demand, we will do."

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday while addressing reporters after an EU summit in Brussels warned that the "worst-case scenario" following Iran's skirmish with the US and Israel would be if Tehran opted out of the NPT.

Iran has maintained that their nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only and that they have no intentions of building a nuclear weapon; these reassurances, however, have done little to curb the anxiety of Israel and its Western allies. Iran has time and again cited its right under the NPT to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes