White House has said that US–Iran peace talks are ongoing despite Tehran’s denial.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the White House has insisted that the United States and Iran are engaged in ongoing discussions aimed at ending tensions between the two countries.
Speaking during a press briefing on Monday, Karoline Leavitt, the White House Press Secretary, said the “remaining elements” of the Iranian regime were becoming increasingly willing to seek a diplomatic solution.
According to her, despite what she described as the Iranian government’s public posture and misleading media reports, negotiations between Washington and Tehran are continuing and making progress.
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Leavitt noted that Iranian leaders are “increasingly eager to end the destruction and come to the negotiating table while they still can.”
However, officials in Tehran have repeatedly denied that formal negotiations are taking place. Iran maintains that it has not held direct talks with the United States over the ongoing conflict.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has maintained that Washington and Tehran are holding “very good and productive conversations” aimed at bringing the dispute to an end.
On Monday, Esmaeil Baqaei, spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, reiterated that Iran has not entered into any direct negotiations with the United States.
He explained that what Tehran had received were messages delivered through intermediaries indicating that Washington was interested in talks.
“Iran has clearly articulated its stance from the outset, and we are well aware of the framework we are considering,” Baqaei said, adding that proposals communicated by the US contained demands Iran considers “excessive and unreasonable.”
The differing accounts from both sides highlight the uncertainty surrounding diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between Washington and Tehran.
