Abbas Araghchi has said that Iran does not intend to negotiate with the United States and will continue fighting, after Donald Trump said Washington had proposed a peace plan.
“At present, our policy is the continuation of resistance”, Mr Araghchi said on state TV, adding: “We do not intend to negotiate – so far, no negotiations have taken place, and I believe our position is completely principled”, reports RTE.
“Speaking of negotiations now is an admission of defeat”, he said, reports RTE.
The remarks followed comments from White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who said Mr Trump would escalate action if Tehran does not accept that it has been “defeated militarily”.
“President Trump does not bluff and he is prepared to unleash hell. Iran should not miscalculate again,” Ms Leavitt told reporters at a press briefing, reports RTE.
“If Iran fails to accept the reality of the current moment, if they fail to understand that they have been defeated militarily, and will continue to be, President Trump will ensure they are hit harder than they have ever been hit before,” she said, reports RTE.
As the joint US-Israeli conflict with Iran entered its fourth week, several countries including Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt have been attempting to mediate.
Iran was still reviewing a US proposal to end the war in the Gulf, despite an initially negative response, a senior Iranian official said before Mr Araghchi’s remarks, reports RTE.
Talks with Iran were ongoing, Ms Leavitt said.
“Talks continue. They are productive, as the president said on Monday, and they continue to be”, she added, reports RTE.
Publicly, Iranian officials have strongly dismissed the idea of negotiations with the US administration.
However, a delay in issuing a formal reply to Pakistan, which delivered a 15-point proposal on behalf of Washington, suggested that some figures in Tehran may still be considering it, reports RTE.
The senior Iranian official’s indication that the proposal remained under review—despite an initial “not positive” reaction—appeared to contradict a report by Press TV claiming it had been rejected.
A senior Pakistani security official said Pakistan had followed up with Iran’s foreign minister and was still awaiting a formal response, reports RTE.
A second Pakistani source said: “The Iranians told us they will get back to us tonight. The media is reporting they’ve said no. But we have not received any official confirmation from Iran. So we are just waiting. They are all underground and communication is a big challenge”, reports RTE.
Another senior Iranian official earlier confirmed that a proposal had been received and said any potential talks could take place in Pakistan or Turkey.
Oil prices fell and stock markets recovered somewhat after reports that Washington had sent the proposal, raising hopes of an end to a conflict that has killed thousands and disrupted global energy supplies, reports RTE.
The Pakistani security official said the proposal had been delivered by intelligence services, with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar following up with Mr Araghchi.
So far, there has been no confirmed response from Iran or any agreed date or location for talks, the official said, reports RTE.
Three Israeli cabinet sources said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet had been briefed on the US proposal.
They said it included provisions such as removing Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, halting enrichment, limiting its ballistic missile programme and ending funding for regional allies, reports RTE.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon is planning to deploy thousands of airborne troops to the Gulf, adding to Marine units already en route, according to sources.
The first Marine Expeditionary Unit, travelling aboard a large amphibious assault ship, could arrive by the end of the month, reports RTE.
Pakistan has offered to host talks involving senior US officials as early as this week.
A senior figure in Turkey’s ruling party, Harun Armagan, said Ankara is also helping to pass messages between Iran and the US, reports RTE.
However, Iran has not publicly indicated any willingness to enter negotiations, with its statements becoming increasingly forceful.
“Has the level of your inner struggle reached the stage of you negotiating with yourself?” the spokesperson for Iran’s joint military command, Ebrahim Zolfaqari, said on state TV, reports RTE.
“People like us can never get along with people like you,” he said. “As we have always said … no one like us will make a deal with you. Not now. Not ever”, reports RTE.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Beghaei, speaking on television in India, said nuclear negotiations had already been under way when Mr Trump launched attacks.
He described this as “a betrayal of diplomacy” and said it showed further talks would be pointless, reports RTE.
“There are no talks or negotiations between Iran and the United States”, he said. “No one can trust United States diplomacy”, reports RTE.
A senior Israeli defence official said Israel remains doubtful that Iran would agree to the proposed terms and is concerned US negotiators could make concessions.
The conflict has continued with sustained airstrikes on Iran and ongoing Iranian drone and missile attacks against Israel and US allies, reports RTE.
An Israeli military official said operations remain “pretty much business as usual” despite reports of talks.
The Israeli military reported further waves of attacks on Iran, including strikes targeting ship and submarine construction facilities, reports RTE.
The semi-official SNN News Agency said a residential area in Tehran was hit, with rescue teams searching through debris.
Iran’s military said its cruise missile strikes targeting the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group had forced it to reposition, warning of further “powerful strikes” if it comes within range, reports RTE.
Kuwait and Saudi Arabia said they had intercepted new drone attacks.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had launched further strikes on Israel and US bases in Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain, reports RTE.
Since the start of what the US has called “Operation Epic Fury”, Iran has targeted countries hosting US bases and effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil and gas supplies.
Iran has told the United Nations Security Council and the International Maritime Organization that “non-hostile vessels” may pass through the strait if coordinated with Iranian authorities, reports RTE.
In practice, however, only Iranian oil shipments and a limited number of vessels from allied countries have been able to pass through, reports RTE.
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