Iran’s
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that “messages have been exchanged” with
the United States, but denied formal peace negotiations were ongoing, Al
Jazeera reported
on March 31.
According to the report, Araghchi said he continues to receive messages from U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, but “this does not mean that we are in negotiations.”
“Claims of negotiations with any party in Iran are not true,” Araghchi said. “All messages are transmitted through the foreign ministry or received by it; there are also contacts between intelligence services.”
Araghchi said Tehran has not responded to a 15-point U.S.
plan and has not presented any initiatives or conditions to Washington. He
added that Iran has not decided whether to enter talks and has reservations
about negotiations. Iran, he said, would accept only a full cessation of
hostilities across the region, not merely a pause.