Iran denies claims of message exchange between Araghchi, Witkoff

Iran has dismissed as false recent reports by Israeli media suggesting that senior Iranian diplomat Abbas Araghchi exchanged messages with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the allegations were “unfounded” and described them as part of a “continuing disinformation campaign” by Israel, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

“The Israeli regime opposes any form of diplomacy, and one of the sources of fake information is this regime itself,” the spokesperson added.

Earlier, Witkoff delivered messages to President Donald Trump from Iranian officials, urging him to postpone a potential military strike on Iran, Israel Hayom reports.

"Witkoff brought Trump a WhatsApp message from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, along with a written assurance from President Masoud Pezeshkian, in order to persuade him to postpone the strike," the official said.

The envoy is pressing for a diplomatic settlement with Iran. "Israel, other countries and international organisations have been passing information to the US indicating that the death toll from the suppression of protests in Iran has likely surpassed 20,000," the report adds.

By Aghakazim Guliyev