Iran has rejected assertions by Donald Trump that negotiations are under way between Washington and Tehran, with military officials accusing the United States of “negotiating with itself” amid the ongoing conflict.
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Speaking on Wednesday, Ebrahim Zolfaqari, a spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, mocked US claims of diplomacy.
Tehran rejects claims of talks
“Has the level of your inner struggle reached the stage of you negotiating with yourself?” he said, according to Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency. “Don’t call your failure an agreement.”
Iranian authorities have consistently denied that any direct or indirect discussions are taking place, despite repeated statements from Trump suggesting otherwise.
The US president told reporters at the White House that Washington was speaking to the “right people” in Iran and that Tehran was keen to reach a deal. “They are talking to us, and they’re making sense,” he said.
Confusion over reported proposal
The conflicting accounts come amid reports that the United States has put forward a ceasefire framework. According to The Wall Street Journal, the proposal includes a series of demands such as dismantling key nuclear facilities, halting uranium enrichment, suspending Iran’s ballistic missile programme and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
In return, sanctions relief and assistance for a civilian nuclear programme were reportedly offered.
However, Iranian officials have not confirmed receiving such a plan. Reza Amiri Moghadam said no negotiations had taken place, while noting that countries including Pakistan were attempting to facilitate dialogue.
Reports have suggested Islamabad may have acted as an intermediary, delivering proposals between the two sides.
Despite this, uncertainty remains. Journalists in Tehran have described a lack of clarity, with officials publicly contradicting US statements and denying any diplomatic engagement.
Fighting continues alongside diplomacy claims
The dispute over talks comes as hostilities continue. Israel has carried out further strikes on Iranian targets, including infrastructure in Tehran, with Iranian media reporting casualties in residential areas.
Iran, in turn, said it had launched missiles towards Israeli locations, including military and urban areas. There were no immediate reports of casualties from the latest exchanges.
Meanwhile, the United States is reportedly preparing to reinforce its military presence in the region. Around 1,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division are expected to deploy, adding to tens of thousands of US personnel already stationed in the Middle East.
The developments highlight a dual-track approach, with diplomatic signals emerging alongside continued military escalation.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 25 March 2026
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