United States President Donald Trump has revealed that Washington is engaged in discussions with Iran, even as the ongoing war in the Middle East enters its third week.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump confirmed that communication channels between both nations remain open. However, he noted that Tehran may not yet be ready to reach an agreement.
“Yes, we’re talking to them,” Trump said, without providing details about the nature or level of the discussions. “But I don’t think they’re ready. But they are getting pretty close.”
The remarks come amid rising tensions and instability across the region, with the conflict continuing to disrupt global markets and heighten geopolitical uncertainty.
Despite Trump’s claims, Iranian officials have strongly denied that any such talks are taking place. Abbas Araghchi dismissed the suggestion of ongoing diplomacy, insisting that Iran has no interest in negotiating with the United States at this time.
“We are stable and strong enough. We are only defending our people,” Araghchi said during an interview on CBS’s “Face The Nation.” He added, “We don’t see any reason why we should talk with Americans, because we were talking with them when they decided to attack us. There is no good experience talking with Americans.”
Trump also expressed uncertainty about pursuing a deal, citing the disruption within Iran’s leadership following the deaths of several top officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, during the early stages of the conflict.
“First of all, nobody even knows who you’re dealing with, because most of their leadership has been killed,” Trump said.
Despite these concerns, the US president maintained that Iran is eager to strike a deal to bring an end to the war, stating, “They want to make a deal badly.”
The conflicting narratives highlight the fragile and uncertain path toward diplomacy, as both nations remain publicly at odds over the possibility of negotiations.
