Iranian Media Blast Araghchi Over Witkoff Meeting: "A Major Mistake"

A political storm is brewing in Iran following Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The Tasnim News Agency, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, claimed Wednesday evening that the contact with Witkoff took place without coordination or approval from the bodies authorized to set policy, including the Supreme National Security Council.

Tasnim wrote: "The improper interaction by Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi with Witkoff was carried out without coordination and approval from the bodies that define policy and are responsible in this area, including the Supreme National Security Council, and certain claims that this action was coordinated are untrue."

The agency added: "Araghchi must answer to the relevant bodies and to the people of Iran regarding this improper action, which contradicts national interests, and explain what calculation led him to make this major mistake."

Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, also said in a television interview that the intention had been to relay Iran’s seven conditions once again to the mediators. According to Tasnim, his remarks indirectly indicate that no authorization was given to go beyond that and hold direct contact with Witkoff.

The meeting took place yesterday in New York, mediated by Qatar and Pakistan. Two Iranian officials told The New York Times about it, and its occurrence was later confirmed by Iranian state television, a senior U.S. official, and a regional source.

According to Iranian television, the meeting was held at the request of the American representatives, and Araghchi presented Tehran’s demands for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending the war. The conditions included the immediate lifting of the naval blockade, the release of frozen Iranian assets, and an end to the war on all "resistance fronts."

Trump described the meeting as "very good," but repeated his threat toward Tehran: "They have one option with the potential to become a great nation, or an option of destruction." Earlier, he said: "We are talking with the Iranians all the time, including today."