Iran s Foreign Minister denies US talks, calls mediation admission of defeat

Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, strongly rejected the idea that any talks are happening between Tehran and Washington to resolve the ongoing conflict. He dismissed claims from the US about diplomatic discussions as mere show. "There are no current talks with the US," Araghchi stated in comments reported by the state-run Press TV. He explained that although Washington is sending messages through different intermediaries, “the exchange of messages via mediators does not mean negotiations.” This indicates that Iran is not accepting the idea of formal diplomatic talks, even though there have been some unofficial communications. Araghchi described US statements about negotiations as “an admission of defeat.” He questioned the change in Washington’s tone, asking, “Didn’t they say they wanted an unconditional surrender before? So why are they now sending their top officials to negotiate?” His comments show Iran’s skepticism towards US intentions after weeks of intense military actions. The rejection of talks comes during ongoing attacks following the US-Israeli operation against Iran that started on February 28. This conflict has resulted in over 1,340 deaths, including that of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In response, Iran has launched drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and Gulf states hosting US military forces, while the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed, affecting global energy supplies. In an interview with CBS’s Face the Nation, Araghchi described the conflict that began with the US-Israeli strikes as “a war of choice” affecting both Iranian civilians and military sites. “We never requested a ceasefire, and we have never asked for negotiations,” he stated. “We are prepared to defend ourselves for as long as necessary. This is what we have done so far, and we will continue until President Trump acknowledges that this is an illegal war with no chance of victory.”