Contradiction in US-Iran Negotiations: Trump Claims Deal Exists, Tehran Strongly Denies

Diplomatic tensions between the United States and Iran have entered a new phase filled with contradictions. US President Donald Trump insists that Tehran is actually attempting to engage in peaceful negotiations, despite repeated official denials from the Iranian government in public. During a dinner event with Republican Congress members, Trump stated that Iran’s refusal to acknowledge the talks stems from the negotiators’ fear of domestic reactions in their own country. “They are actually negotiating, and they really want to make a deal,” Trump said, as quoted by AFP. “But they are afraid to say it, because they think they will be killed by their own people.” Trump’s statement starkly contrasts with Iran’s official stance. The Iranian government recently rejected the US plan to end the war in the Middle East. Instead of subsiding, Tehran has launched more attacks against Israel and Arab countries in the Gulf. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasised through state television that his side is not involved in any talks to end the war. He stressed that Iran’s current position leaves no room for diplomacy with Washington. “Talking about negotiations now is an admission of defeat,” Araghchi asserted. In line with Araghchi, Iran’s state English-language television channel quoted an anonymous official stating that Iran rejects the US ceasefire proposal. Iran is reported to have its own demands as conditions for ending the fighting. Previously, officials from Pakistan, acting as intermediaries to convey the US plan to Iran, outlined a proposal containing 15 points to ease the conflict. Although Iran denies it, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt maintains that communication between the two countries is still ongoing. “The talks continue. This is productive, as the President said on Monday, and the talks are continuing,” Leavitt said on Wednesday local time. However, Leavitt also issued a stern warning if this diplomatic path reaches a dead end. She stated that Donald Trump would not hesitate to take extreme military steps. “If the talks with Iran do not yield results, he (Trump) will ensure they are hit harder than they have ever experienced before,” she concluded.