Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has clarified that there are no formal negotiations taking place with the United States. Instead, he said both sides are only exchanging messages through different channels. He explained, “What is currently happening right now is not negotiations, but an exchange of messages, sometimes directly with Steve Witkoff and sometimes through regional intermediaries.” Araghchi also noted that Iran has not responded to any proposals sent by Washington. He added that Tehran has not offered any counter-proposals either.
Iran Rejects Ceasefire, Demands Full End to War
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Araghchi made Iran’s position clear. “Tehran says it will not accept a ceasefire, insisting instead on a complete end to the war across the region, with guarantees that attacks will not be repeated and compensation for damages.” This shows that Iran is looking for long-term security guarantees rather than a temporary pause in fighting.
Trump Says No Deal Needed to End Iran Conflict
US President Donald Trump has taken a different stance. He said that reaching a deal with Iran is not necessary to end the conflict. “Iran doesn’t have to make a deal, no,” Trump said, adding that the United States would withdraw once it is confident that Iran cannot develop a nuclear weapon “for years”.
He also shared a possible timeline, saying the conflict could end in “two or three weeks”. “We’re finishing the job,” he said, adding that the US would leave “within maybe two weeks, maybe a couple days longer to do the job”. Trump further stated, “We want to knock out every single thing they have - now it’s possible we make a deal before that.” He also emphasized that even if Iran chooses to negotiate, “it doesn’t matter” if they “come to the table”.
Iran Denies Trump Claims on Ongoing Talks
Iran has strongly rejected Trump’s claims that it is seeking a deal or that negotiations are progressing well. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said there have been no talks direct or indirect during the past 31 days of conflict.
“We have held no negotiations with America in these thirty-one days. What has occurred is the submission of a negotiation request, accompanied by proposals that reached us through intermediaries,” Baqaei said in a post on X. He added that these proposals were delivered through mediators, including Pakistan, rather than through formal diplomatic engagement.
US-Iran Conflict Remains Unresolved Amid Diplomatic Deadlock
The gap between the US and Iran’s positions remains wide. While both sides are communicating indirectly, there is no clear progress toward ending the conflict. For now, the situation remains uncertain, with message exchanges replacing formal negotiations and both sides continuing to stand firm on their demands.