Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has rejected claims that Tehran has sought a ceasefire or negotiations with the United States and Israel, contradicting earlier reports suggesting the country had reached out to de-escalate the conflict.
In an interview with NBC News, Araghchi stated that Iran is neither requesting a ceasefire nor pursuing negotiations with Washington, accusing the U.S. of acting in bad faith during previous diplomatic engagements.
“We are not asking for a ceasefire. We don’t see any reason why we should negotiate with the United States when we negotiated with them twice, and every time they attacked us in the middle of the negotiations,” Araghchi said.
Conflicting Reports Surface
The statement comes just a day after reports circulated suggesting that Iran had contacted Israeli or U.S. channels to discuss a possible ceasefire, fueling speculation that Tehran might be seeking to ease tensions following recent military exchanges.
However, Iranian officials have firmly denied those claims, insisting that no request for negotiations or ceasefire has been made by the Iranian government.
Growing Tensions in the Region
The denial comes as the conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel continues to intensify, with airstrikes and retaliatory attacks reported across multiple locations in the Middle East.
Iran has accused Washington of undermining diplomacy, claiming that previous rounds of negotiations were followed by military actions, which Tehran says has eroded trust in further talks.
Araghchi also warned that Iran would continue to defend its sovereignty and suggested the country is prepared for further escalation if necessary.
Uncertain Diplomatic Path
Despite growing international calls for de-escalation, Iran’s leadership appears to be signaling resistance to immediate negotiations, raising concerns that diplomatic efforts to halt the conflict may face significant obstacles.
Global leaders and mediators continue to urge restraint, warning that the situation could escalate into a wider regional conflict if diplomacy fails.
