Iran to hold only indirect talks with US, senior MP says

A senior Iranian lawmaker said on Thursday that Tehran will not engage in direct talks with the United States, insisting that any upcoming negotiations will be conducted through intermediaries.

Esmail Kowsari, a member of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, said the Islamic Republic’s stance in the talks is unchanged.

“Our positions are clear, and we will not back down under any circumstances, as we believe the Iranian people are being wronged by the current sanctions,” Kowsari told state media.

He added that, following discussions with the foreign minister, any future negotiations with Washington would be “completely indirect.”

“There must be a third-party mediator — direct negotiations will absolutely not happen,” he said.