Iran Denies Direct Talks with US, Says Only Messages Exchanged via Intermediaries

Tehran, March 2026: Seyed Abbas Araghchi has clarified that Iran has not held any direct negotiations with the United States despite recent claims from Washington, stating that only indirect messages have been exchanged through intermediaries in recent days.

Speaking in an interview with IRIB, Araghchi said that communication between Iran and the United States has been limited to relayed messages via friendly nations, and should not be interpreted as formal dialogue or negotiations.

“Over the past few days, the American side has sent different messages through various intermediaries. When such messages reach us and we respond by stating our positions or issuing warnings, it does not amount to negotiations,” he said. “It is merely an exchange of messages through our friends, while we continue to reiterate our principled stance.”

Araghchi revealed that in some of these communications, Iran had issued strong warnings against any potential US attacks on its infrastructure. According to him, these warnings contributed to Washington stepping back from a previously indicated plan to strike Iranian power facilities within a short timeframe.

The Iranian foreign minister reiterated that Tehran does not seek to prolong the conflict. “We did not start this war and we do not want it to continue,” he said, adding that Iran is willing to see an end to hostilities—but only under conditions that prevent a repeat of such conflict in the future.

However, he firmly rejected the idea of a temporary ceasefire, arguing that it would only perpetuate a recurring cycle of confrontation followed by short-lived truces. “We are not looking for a ceasefire that leads back into the same vicious pattern of negotiation, war, and truce,” Araghchi stated. “We want a definitive end to the war on terms that ensure lasting stability.”

Outlining Iran’s current approach, he said the country remains focused on resistance and self-defence, with no immediate plans to enter into formal negotiations. He emphasized that Iran’s priority is safeguarding its sovereignty while maintaining pressure until its strategic objectives are achieved.

On the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz, Araghchi noted that the waterway falls within the territorial domain of Iran and Oman, and that Tehran is evaluating new mechanisms to regulate safe maritime passage. The strait remains a key global energy transit route, and tensions in the region have heightened concerns over shipping security.

His remarks come in response to recent statements by Donald Trump, who claimed that Iran was actively negotiating with the United States and seeking a deal to end the conflict. Tehran has strongly refuted these assertions.

The ongoing tensions follow joint military strikes launched by the United States and Israel on Iranian targets late last month, which triggered a wider escalation. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks targeting US and Israeli interests across the region, while tightening its control over the Strait of Hormuz.

As the situation remains volatile, both sides continue to maintain firm positions, with indirect communication channels serving as the only link amid an otherwise intensifying conflict.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)