By Sabiu Abdullahi
The Islamic Republic of Iran has dismissed claims that it sought negotiations with the United States amid rising tensions between the two countries. Tehran said it has not made any request for dialogue with Washington and has had no recent direct contact with U.S. officials.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, said he had not communicated with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff in recent days. He stressed that Iran did not initiate any move toward talks with the United States.
“There was no contact between me and Witkoff in recent days and no request for negotiations was made from us,” Araqchi told state media. He explained that while some intermediaries remain in touch with Tehran, they are only “holding consultations” with various parties.
Araqchi further outlined Iran’s position on any potential engagement with Washington. “Our stance is clear, negotiations don’t go along with threats and talks can only take place when there are no longer menaces and excessive demands,” he said. His remarks underlined Iran’s refusal to enter discussions under pressure.
On the U.S. side, President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that another “armada” was moving toward Iran. He also said he hoped Tehran would agree to a deal with Washington. The United States has recently increased its military deployments in the Gulf, following nationwide protests in Iran. Those protests triggered what observers have described as the bloodiest crackdown since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Iran’s President, Masoud Pezeshkian, also commented on the situation. He told Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that Iran supports any effort that can prevent war, provided it aligns with international law. According to him, Tehran remains open to peaceful initiatives aimed at avoiding conflict.
The latest statements from both sides point to continued strain in relations. Iran insists that meaningful dialogue cannot happen under threats or excessive demands, while the United States continues to strengthen its military presence in the region.