Iran Says No to Direct US Talks While Keeping Back Channels Open
Iran has refused direct talks with US officials but is still reviewing a secret message from Vice President JD Vance, as Washington insists diplomacy never stopped.
Iran's foreign minister said Tehran has no plans to meet directly with US officials, even as Washington insists diplomatic channels remain open and regional mediators push to prevent a wider war. The statement came as Iran confirmed it is still reviewing a message sent by US Vice President JD Vance to a senior Iranian security official, with the contents and timing of the message undisclosed [276107]. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi gave no details on how Tehran might respond, signaling that direct diplomatic contact remains limited even as indirect channels stay active [276107].
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said diplomatic talks with Iran have never stopped and stressed that Washington prefers diplomacy over conflict, adding there is no set timetable for the efforts and that communication channels between the two sides remain open [276099]. The comments suggest Washington is keeping the door open to a negotiated path despite persistent tensions.
Iran has also said indirect negotiations with the United States are still ongoing, but it will not give in to President Donald Trump's demands even if he orders new military strikes [271959]. Tehran said it is prepared to respond to any attack while keeping diplomatic channels open through several regional intermediaries, hedging between negotiation and confrontation [275524].
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned the United States and Israel on Saturday against further strikes as fears grow over renewed fighting in the Middle East [276039]. Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have recently threatened military action against Iran, though Rubio said Trump has not yet decided on fresh strikes [276039].
Trump said the war with Iran is "going to end soon" but gave no details, as Qatari mediators returned to Tehran to push for a deal [275730]. He also said the United States will not strike Iran before the midterm congressional elections, repeating his belief that the war will end soon and stressing that the top priority is ensuring Tehran does not obtain a nuclear weapon [275703].
A senior Iranian official said Iran has not made any new official decision to change its nuclear doctrine, as Tehran has yet to respond to a new letter delivered through American intermediaries, according to the head of Iran's National Security Council [276084]. The official gave no further details on the letter's contents or when a response might come [276084].
On the military front, Iran's military chief announced that the country's armed forces have compiled a new list of "enemy" targets and assets, without naming the countries or groups on the list or providing further details about when it might be used [276003].