Tehran has issued a sharp rebuttal to claims from Washington that diplomatic talks are "progressing well", flatly denying that any direct or indirect negotiations have taken place since the outbreak of hostilities on February 28. In a statement released on Tuesday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry clarified that while the United States has submitted various proposals through intermediaries — most notably Pakistan — these have not translated into active dialogue.
Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei used social media to set the record straight, asserting that Iran remains entirely occupied with its own defence as the conflict enters its second month. "We have had no negotiations with America in these thirty-one days," Baqaei stated, describing the American overtures as little more than requests for an audience. He struck a particularly cautious tone, referencing previous diplomatic "betrayals" that have left the Iranian leadership deeply sceptical of any Western-led peace initiatives.
This attitude is in stark contrast to the story coming from the White House. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has indicated that talks are ongoing and going well, while President Donald Trump has indicated that a deal could be imminent. The President even went as far as to name Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf as a potential interlocutor, suggesting that Washington would decide within the week whether he was a figure they could formally engage with.
The disconnect between the two capitals comes at a perilous moment for the region. Operation Epic Fury, which began with the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, shows no sign of cooling down. While the US has put forward a 15-point plan for peace, Tehran has come up with a stringent five-point agenda of its own, which includes hefty war reparations and the acknowledgement of its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz. For now, a ceasefire appears as far-fetched as ever, with both sides stuck in a vicious circle of military escalation and diplomatic stalemate.
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