Iran denies direct talks with US despite Axios report

Defence affairs - Def-Geopolitics on X

Axios reports a direct communication channel between US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Iran denies any recent contact and insists it will not negotiate a ceasefire under current attacks.

Axios reported a direct communication channel had been established between American envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi amid ongoing attacks on Iran. Araghchi has denied the claim, saying no such contact has occurred since the start of the hostilities.

According to Axios, Araghchi sent text messages to Witkoff focused on ending the war. The report cited US sources stating that President Donald Trump was open to a deal allowing Iran to rejoin the global economy and benefit from oil exports, while maintaining that Washington would not negotiate from a position of weakness.

Araghchi said on X that any claims of recent communication were false and designed to mislead oil traders and the public. He said his last contact with Witkoff occurred before what he called an illegal US military strike on Iran.

An Iranian official told Drop Site News that messages from Witkoff were ignored due to decisions by Iran’s senior authorities. Tehran has reportedly reaffirmed that only the Supreme Leader has the authority to declare a ceasefire.

Strategy amid war

Iran has informed other countries that it will not accept any agreement allowing US or 'Israeli' attacks to continue. Officials said Iran’s strategy focuses on opening multiple fronts, conducting diverse attacks, and gradually exhausting the adversary to create conditions for a lasting ceasefire.