Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, has stated that Tehran is not engaged in any negotiations with the United States and has not responded to a reported 15-point proposal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict.
Speaking in an interview aired on Al Jazeera on Wednesday, Araghchi explained that although communication channels exist, they do not amount to formal negotiations.
“We receive messages from the American side, some direct and some through our friends in the region, and whenever necessary we respond to these messages,” Araghchi said in an interview with Al Jazeera aired on Wednesday and dubbed into Arabic from Persian.
“There are no grounds for negotiations,” he said, adding however that some messages had been exchanged directly with US special envoy Steve Witkoff.
The conflict between Iran, the United States, and Israel began on February 28, following a series of strikes that killed Iran’s supreme leader and rapidly escalated into a broader regional war.
In response to the crisis, diplomatic initiatives involving countries such as Turkey, Egypt, and Pakistan have recently been launched in an effort to broker peace.
According to reports, two senior Pakistani officials revealed last week that Islamabad had passed along a 15-point proposal from Washington to Tehran as part of ongoing mediation efforts.
Some Iranian media outlets had suggested that Tehran put forward a five-point counterproposal demanding an end to what it described as “aggression,” along with assurances that neither the United States nor Israel would resume hostilities.
However, Araghchi dismissed those reports, insisting that Tehran had not formally replied to the US proposal.
“has not offered anything in response” to the US plan and that reported Iranian responses were “merely guesses” from a media outlet.
The current war erupted while Iran and the United States were already engaged in talks over Tehran’s nuclear programme, further complicating diplomatic relations.
The situation also mirrors a brief but intense 12-day conflict in June of the previous year, when Israel launched strikes shortly before scheduled negotiations between Tehran and Washington. The United States later joined that offensive, targeting key Iranian nuclear facilities.
Araghchi emphasized that Iran has no trust in the United States and rejected the idea of a temporary ceasefire.
He said there was “zero” trust in the United States and that Iran would not accept a ceasefire, instead calling for a “complete end to the war” and reparations.
Since the conflict began and entered its second month, Iran has significantly restricted movement through the Strait of Hormuz, allowing only limited shipping to pass. This has disrupted nearly 20 percent of global oil supply routes.
Tehran maintains that the strait remains closed to what it describes as “enemy” vessels.
Meanwhile, tensions have further escalated with the arrival of the USS Tripoli in the region. The vessel carries approximately 3,500 Marines and sailors, raising concerns about a potential ground operation.
Issuing a warning, Araghchi said Iran is prepared for any escalation.
“we are waiting for them… they will incur heavy losses”.
