Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has categorically denied that any meeting is planned with the United States, directly contradicting former U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim made at the NATO summit in The Hague. Araghchi, speaking in a state TV interview, emphasized that Iran is still evaluating whether resuming diplomatic negotiations with Washington would serve its national interests—particularly in light of the recent U.S.-Israel strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Key Points from Araghchi’s Statement:
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No Talks Scheduled: Araghchi stated clearly that Iran has no current plans to meet with the United States, casting doubt on the credibility of Trump’s statement about an upcoming meeting “next week.”
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Nuclear Program Under Review: He acknowledged that the recent military strikes caused significant damage, leading Iranian authorities to reassess the country’s nuclear program before deciding on any diplomatic path forward.
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Skepticism Toward Dialogue: Tehran remains cautious about engagement with Washington, especially after five previous negotiation rounds reportedly collapsed due to simultaneous or subsequent military actions by the U.S. and Israel.
U.S. Position and Response:
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Trump’s NATO Claim Walked Back: On Wednesday, Trump said a meeting with Iran was imminent and called recent strikes on nuclear sites a “success.” But on Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt contradicted him, stating:
“We don’t have anything scheduled as of now.”
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Continued Backchannel Contacts: Leavitt clarified that indirect communication is ongoing through intermediaries like Qatar, and if a meeting is formally arranged, it would be publicly announced.
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Middle East Envoy’s Optimism: U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff called recent communications with Iranian officials “promising,” and expressed hope for a long-term peace deal that could “resurrect Iran.” This suggests that despite public posturing, behind-the-scenes diplomacy continues.
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Pentagon’s Defense of Strikes: U.S. military officials held a press conference defending the effectiveness of the strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and emphasized that these actions were designed to delay or dismantle capabilities without triggering full-scale conflict.
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio added pressure by saying on Face the Nation:
“We have bent over backwards to create a deal with these people,”underlining American frustration with Iran’s hardening stance.
Geopolitical Context:
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Strained U.S.-Iran Relations: Tensions have remained high since the U.S. withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal under Trump’s presidency. The recent escalation—military strikes followed by conflicting statements—has added a new layer of mistrust.
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Iran’s Strategic Reassessment: Tehran is weighing whether returning to the negotiating table benefits its strategic interests, particularly after feeling betrayed during earlier diplomatic efforts that coincided with military aggression.
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Intermediaries’ Role: Countries like Qatar and Oman continue to play key roles as diplomatic bridges, and may be critical in any future breakthrough.
Bottom Line:
While Trump’s claim of a scheduled U.S.-Iran meeting appears to be premature—or at least exaggerated—Iran’s denial and the White House’s clarification highlight a disconnect between public rhetoric and diplomatic reality. Dialogue is not off the table, but Iran is in no rush to engage after recent military pressure. The situation remains fluid, with indirect channels open but mutual trust still fractured. A breakthrough, if it comes, will likely require substantive concessions or confidence-building steps from both sides.
