Iran: Iran stated on Monday that it has not engaged in direct negotiations with the United States, clarifying that any recent communications have been limited to messages relayed through intermediaries.
According to Anadolu Agency, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei remarked that no direct talks have occurred between Iran and the US, and that interactions have been restricted to messages delivered via mediators expressing the US's desire to negotiate. Baqaei expressed skepticism regarding US claims of diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the conflict with Iran, questioning the credibility of such assertions.
Baqaei emphasized Iran's consistent stance from the beginning and criticized the proposals from the US as "excessive and unrealistic." He also noted that meetings hosted by Pakistan were organized independently, with Iran not participating in them, while acknowledging the regional interest in ending the conflict.
Furthermore, Baqaei revealed that Iran's parliament is deliberating the possibility of withdrawing from the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT). He questioned the benefits of remaining in the treaty when certain "domineering parties" hinder Iran from enjoying its advantages and rights. Despite these considerations, Baqaei reiterated Iran's stance against acquiring nuclear weapons and criticized the International Atomic Energy Agency's "destructive approach."
In related developments, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar expressed willingness to host talks between the US and Iran as part of broader mediation efforts. US President Donald Trump, on Sunday, showed support for these diplomatic endeavors, with countries like Pakistan, Trkiye, and Egypt acting as intermediaries. Despite the ongoing tensions, Trump mentioned that indirect talks with Iran through Pakistani emissaries were making progress, suggesting a potential deal could be reached swiftly.
In a separate incident, Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, accused Israel of targeting a Kuwaiti water desalination plant to blame Iran. The attack resulted in the death of an Indian worker and significant material damage, according to Kuwait's Electricity Ministry. Regional tensions have risen following offensives launched by Israel and the US against Iran, leading to retaliatory strikes by Iran, impacting several countries and causing widespread disruptions.