Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on September 23 that Tehran is looking to start a new round of negotiations on the nuclear issue during the United Nations General Assembly if the other parties are ready.

Several rounds of indirect negotiations were held between Iran and the US to restore the 2015 nuclear, which unravelled after Donald Trump pulled out and reimposed harsh sanctions on the country. Talks finally reached an impasse and officially have been stalled for about two years, but recent leaks suggest talks restarted with the election Reformist Masoud Pezeshkian. 

Araqchi, who is in New York for the 79^th UN General Assembly, said in an interview that Tehran is willing to kickstart the negotiations.

He said there had been a “general declaration of readiness” from the other side (the US), but the resumption of the talks is now more complicated than before, given the current international situation about the situation in Israel, Gaza and Lebanon.

“My colleagues and I will use all our strength and experience, and hope we can forge new paths,” he said.

Asked if he has received approval from higher authorities in Tehran for this approach, he said, “Diplomats never take a step without permission.”

Araqchi ruled out the possibility of a direct meeting with his American counterpart, Antony Blinken, stating that such a dialogue is not likely.

He noted it is "impossible" for Iran and the US to resolve their differences, but the new government in Tehran will try to manage the conflict to reduce its costs to the people.

“It is true that this hostility exists, but our people should not pay any price and should not bear any pressure,” he said.

A new government came to power in Tehran after former president Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash in May.

The administration of Masoud Pezeshkian has vowed to resolve issues with the West to normalise the country’s international relations.

In one of his latest speeches, he expressed openness to renewed negotiations with the US regarding on the nuclear programme.

Iran's clerical Leader, Ali Khamenei, stated that there is "no harm" in engaging with the "enemy" about the US under certain circumstances. Still, he stressed that Iran should not place its hopes in these negotiations.