Iran Denies US Talks Amid Ongoing War: Tehran Envoy to Pakistan Rejects Trump's Claims of Negotiations

 

Iran's ambassador to Pakistan has firmly denied that any negotiations — direct or indirect — have taken place between Tehran and Washington, directly contradicting recent statements by US President Donald Trump.

“We have also heard such details through the media, but according to my information — and contrary to Trump’s claims — so far no negotiations, direct or indirect, have taken place between the two countries,” Ambassador Reza Amiri Moghadam said on Wednesday.

He added that it was “natural that friendly countries are always engaged in consultations with both sides to end this illegitimate aggression,” referring to the ongoing US-Israel military campaign against Iran.

The envoy’s remarks come as Trump has repeatedly claimed that talks to end the conflict are actively underway. On Tuesday, the US president told reporters at the White House that negotiations were happening “right now,” naming Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law Jared Kushner as involved parties. Trump suggested Iran was eager for a deal and had even offered a “significant gift” as a gesture of goodwill.c0d085

Iranian officials have consistently pushed back against such assertions, describing them as “fake news” designed to manipulate oil and financial markets or to mask difficulties faced by the US and Israel in the conflict.

Earlier this week, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf posted on X (formerly Twitter): “No negotiations have been held with the US, and fake news is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped.”7446d3

Other senior Iranian figures, including security officials, have echoed the denial, insisting there are currently no talks and warning that psychological warfare will not restore calm to the Strait of Hormuz or stabilize energy markets.

The public contradiction highlights deep tensions and mutual distrust even as third-party mediators — including Pakistan and Turkey — appear to be facilitating indirect contacts or passing messages between the two sides. Iran has reportedly expressed reservations about certain US-linked envoys and prefers communication through neutral channels.

The war, now in its fourth week, has seen intense US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, Iranian missile responses, and significant disruption to global oil supplies. Oil prices have fluctuated sharply amid uncertainty over any potential ceasefire.

As fighting continues, both sides appear to be using public statements to shape the narrative: Washington signaling openness to diplomacy while maintaining military pressure, and Tehran rejecting talks while keeping the door slightly ajar for consultations through allies.