The US asked for negotiations, but “no talks took place”

Iran's Foreign Ministry said on Monday that it had received an offer of negotiations from the US, but denied that any talks had taken place since the outbreak of the war. US President Donald Trump says negotiations are ongoing.

“In recent days, we have received through certain countries (…) an American request to start negotiations aimed at ending the war,” Iran's state-run Irna news agency reported, citing Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Bagei. The spokesman added that no talks had been held with the US since the beginning of the war.

Earlier on Monday, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, wrote on the X platform: “no negotiations with the US have taken place, and false information is being used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and to end the impasse in which the United States and Israel find themselves.”

Trump announced that day that his advisers, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, had spoken with Tehran representatives and that the two sides had agreed on the “major points of the agreement.” He added that the war between the US and Israel against Iran, which has been ongoing since February 28, may soon come to an end. Trump suggested that the Strait of Hormuz could be controlled jointly by the US and Iran.

In another statement on Monday, Trump said that Iran was negotiating “seriously” this time.

Reuters reported on Monday that Washington sent a request for a meeting with Ghalibaf on Saturday. Tehran has not responded so far, Reuters added, citing an Iranian source.

Axios, citing Israeli sources, maintains that Witkoff and Kushner were in contact with Ghalibaf. Moreover, Axios journalist Barak Rawid wrote on the X platform that US Vice President JD Vance spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday. The conversation was supposed to concern the opening of negotiations with Iran. Ravid's sources told him that during the conversation, the politicians discussed elements of a possible agreement with Iran.

The Financial Times wrote on the same day, citing sources, that Pakistan was trying to play the role of mediator and bring an end to the war. Citing two people close to the matter, the daily reported that on Sunday Trump spoke with the commander of the Pakistani army, Asim Munir. The newspaper added that Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif talked with Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian on Monday.

According to Israeli officials, talks between the US and Iran may take place this week in the capital of Pakistan, Islamabad, Reuters reported, citing sources. (PAP)

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