Iran says no talks underway with US, but indirect exchanges possible

Iran is not currently engaged in negotiations with the United States and has not requested the resumption of talks with Washington, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has said.

According to him, indirect exchanges through mediators, however, remain possible, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

"Mediators may convey messages from the American side regarding current developments in the region, but at present we have no negotiations with the American side," Baqaei told a briefing.

The spokesperson noted that Tehran has not sought talks since the latest escalation of tensions.

"Claims that Iran has requested negotiations are reports periodically circulated by our opponents," he added.

The latest escalation in US-Iran tensions began on July 8, when US forces launched multiple strikes on Iranian territory for the first time since the signing of a memorandum between Washington and Tehran, claiming the attacks were in response to an assault on a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.

On the same day, US President Donald Trump declared the ceasefire with Iran over.

In response, Tehran launched attacks on US facilities in Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman.

The two sides halted exchanges of strikes on July 24.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov