US says Iran has consistently rejected negotiations
Iran has repeatedly turned down talks with the Trump administration while Washington keeps the door open for serious dialogue, a State Department spokesperson told Iran International on Thursday.
Iran has repeatedly turned down talks with the Trump administration while Washington keeps the door open for serious dialogue, a State Department spokesperson told Iran International on Thursday.
“As President Trump has repeatedly said, including at the UN General Assembly, the United States has kept the door open for serious and direct dialogue, even as Iran has consistently rejected negotiations,” the spokesperson said in response to an email inquiry.
Iran International asked if the State Department had any confirmation, clarification, or response regarding an alleged Iranian message sent to the US via the Saudi crown prince or any indirect diplomatic outreach from Tehran.
Last week, Reuters reported citing two sources familiar with the exchange that Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian had urged Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to help persuade US President Donald Trump to revive nuclear talks.
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Thursday denied reports that Tehran had sought to enlist Riyadh as an intermediary in talks with Washington, saying outreach to President Donald Trump was beneath Iran's dignity.
“They fabricate rumors claiming that Iran has sent a message to the United States through some country. It is pure lies. Nothing of the sort ever happened," Khamenei said in a speech.
"The Americans betray even their own friends ... A government of this kind certainly does not deserve for a state such as the Islamic Republic to seek relations or cooperation with it."
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday no direct nuclear negotiations are taking place with the United States, but channels remain open if Washington decided to change stance.
“We are ready to negotiate and we have always been ready, the same as in 2015. In 2025 we were negotiating when America and Israel attacked us. We are still ready, but real negotiation needs to be serious,” Araghchi said.
Trump said the United States was talking to Tehran, which he said "very badly” wanted a deal with Washington.
