Iran on Monday rejected claims of participating in Pakistan-facilitated talks to end the ongoing conflict, asserting that any such forums are “their own” and that Tehran was not involved.
In a statement amplified by the Consulate General of Iran in Mumbai on X, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said there were no direct talks with the United States, adding that Tehran had only received “excessive and unreasonable demands” through intermediaries.
“Pakistan’s forums are their own; we didn’t participate,” the statement said, while adding that although regional calls to end the war are welcome, “one must remember who started it.”
PAKISTAN’S MEDIATION PUSH AND UNCERTAINTY
Baghaei’s clarification came after Pakistan had announced on Sunday that it would soon host talks between the US and Iran, though there was no immediate confirmation from either Washington or Tehran, and it remained unclear whether any discussions would be direct or indirect.
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Islamabad would be “honoured to host and facilitate meaningful talks” after a meeting of top diplomats from Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia in Islamabad.
However, the diplomatic effort appeared uncertain, with Pakistani officials offering no further clarity and Iran’s UN mission declining to comment. Islamabad has positioned itself as a mediator in recent weeks, citing its ties with both Washington and Tehran, triggering a sharp reaction from India as the Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar called Pakistan a dalal (broker) nation.
IRAN CALLS US PLAN ‘EXCESSIVE’
Baghaei said Iran had received a 15-point proposal from the administration of US President Donald Trump but described the demands as “excessive, unrealistic and irrational”. He reiterated that Tehran was not engaged in direct negotiations with Washington, even as the US claimed progress in talks.
The remarks come amid uncertainty over diplomatic efforts reportedly being facilitated by Pakistan, with officials indicating that any engagement, if it happens, may not be direct.
TRUMP THREATENS ESCALATION, MULLS SEIZING KHARG
Meanwhile, Trump on Monday warned that if a deal to end the war is not reached “shortly” and the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened, the US could expand its offensive.
In a social media post, he said Washington could “completely obliterate” Iran’s power plants, oil wells and Kharg Island, and potentially target desalination facilities.
Earlier, in an interview with the Financial Times, Trump also suggested the US could seize Kharg Island – the terminal through which most of Iran’s oil exports pass – saying, “Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don’t.”
TALKS CLOUDY AMID TROOP BUILD-UP
While Trump has repeatedly claimed that negotiations are progressing, Tehran has maintained a defiant stance. Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf dismissed talk of diplomacy as a cover for a US military build-up in the region, warning that Iranian forces were ready to retaliate if American troops were deployed on the ground.
The United States has already sent thousands of additional troops to the Middle East, raising concerns of a possible escalation even as diplomatic channels remain uncertain.
With agency inputs
