Iran denies seeking talks with Washington despite Donald Trump claiming diplomatic progress, as a fragile pause in fighting raises cautious hopes of easing regional tensions, reports Asian Lite US News Desk
Iran has insisted it has neither requested nor resumed negotiations with the United States, despite President Donald Trump claiming Washington and Tehran are holding “good talks” following a temporary pause in hostilities.
Speaking at a weekly press briefing in Tehran on Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei dismissed reports that Iran had sought direct negotiations with Washington, saying no talks were currently taking place.
“Mediators may convey messages from the American side to us regarding current developments in the region. But at present, we are not engaged in any negotiations with the United States,” Baqaei said.
He also rejected suggestions that Tehran had initiated diplomatic contacts.
“Claims that Iran has requested negotiations are fabrications that the other side circulates from time to time,” he said.
Baqaei accused the United States of repeatedly violating international norms, saying Washington’s conduct in recent years had “resembled that of a mafia gang that adheres to no rules or laws.”
“As long as such behaviour by the United States continues, we cannot be hopeful about the emergence of a reasonable diplomatic process,” he added.
His remarks came as direct military exchanges between Iran and the United States remained suspended for a second consecutive day, offering cautious optimism that the latest escalation could be contained.
The recent conflict erupted after diplomatic efforts collapsed over disputes linked to the Strait of Hormuz before expanding into a wider regional confrontation involving attacks on US military facilities, commercial shipping and Washington’s regional allies.
Iran’s military confirmed it had suspended retaliatory operations after what it described as a halt in American strikes.
Army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia said US attacks had stopped over the previous two nights.
“These attacks continued until two nights ago, but over the past two nights the Americans have stopped their attacks. Since our strategy has essentially been retaliatory, we have also halted our retaliatory operations,” he said.
The temporary lull helped ease concerns in global energy markets, with oil prices falling in early Asian trading as investors reacted positively to the reduction in immediate military risks.
Despite the pause, tensions across the region remain high. Reports of fresh drone incidents in Jordan, Iraq and Saudi Arabia have underscored the continuing volatility, while concerns over maritime security in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz persist.
President Trump, however, maintained that sustained US military pressure had forced Iran to reconsider its position.
Speaking aboard Air Force One and later repeating the message during a public appearance, Trump said the United States and Iran were having “good talks” and suggested a diplomatic breakthrough remained possible.
“We’ve pretty much destroyed their military. They want to meet, and we’re meeting. We’ll see what happens. There’s a chance we could make a deal,” Trump said.
“The only reason they want to meet is that we’ve been hitting them very hard. Without what we did, they wouldn’t even be talking to us.”
Trump said he was prepared to give diplomacy time to succeed but warned military action could quickly resume if negotiations failed.
“I think there’s a good chance that something could happen. If it does, good. If it doesn’t, we go back to doing what we were doing two days ago,” he said.
The President also defended Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, dismissed concerns over US weapons stockpiles, and said American defence production was expanding rapidly.
Asked about reports that Russia may have supplied Iran with satellite imagery of US military installations in the Gulf, Trump said he would seek clarification from Russian President Vladimir Putin but argued such assistance had made little difference.
“If they have, it hasn’t worked out because they have no Army, they have no Air Force. They have no Navy,” he said.
While international mediators, including Oman and Qatar, are understood to be facilitating indirect contacts between the two sides, Iran continues to reject claims of direct negotiations, insisting any communication is taking place solely through intermediaries.
