Iran denies media reports on delegation landing in Oman for talks

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
18 Jun 2025 20:22

Iran rejects Western media rumors of secret diplomacy, asserting that no delegation was sent to Oman.

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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visits the Muscat International Book Fair in Oman, Friday, April 25, 2025 (AP)

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has categorically denied a Reuters report that claimed that an Iranian negotiating delegation had arrived in the Sultanate of Oman amid ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions with the United States and "Israel".

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei refuted the report, stating clearly that “no Iranian delegation has gone to Oman.” His comments were echoed by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who also dismissed the claim, telling Iranian media, “No one has gone to Oman.”

Reuters had earlier reported that an Iranian negotiation team had landed in Muscat as part of renewed diplomatic efforts aimed at containing the growing regional situation. The report suggested the move was part of indirect backchannel discussions involving Western and regional intermediaries.

Iran fires back at Trump's 'lies': Never 'asked to grovel at WH gates'

In a related context, Iran’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations issued a scathing rebuke to US President Donald Trump on Wednesday, rejecting his latest remarks about Tehran’s willingness to negotiate and condemning his threats as provocative and unfounded.

The response followed Trump’s claim that “Iran wants to negotiate” and had allegedly suggested coming to the White House.

"They’ve suggested that they come to the White House,” he claimed.

No Iranian official has ever asked to grovel at the gates of the White House. The only thing more despicable than his lies is his cowardly threat to “take out” Iran’s Supreme Leader.

Iran does NOT negotiate under duress, shall NOT accept peace under duress, and certainly NOT…
— I.R.IRAN Mission to UN, NY (@Iran_UN) June 18, 2025

Trump also boasted that “nobody knows what I’m going to do” and floated the notion of “unconditional surrender” from Iran.

Iran’s mission dismissed the comments as political theater, stating unequivocally, “No Iranian official has ever asked to grovel at the gates of the White House.” The statement directly challenged Trump’s narrative, portraying it as a fabrication intended to serve domestic political goals.

The mission further condemned Trump’s past threats, including what it described as a “cowardly” call to “take out” Iran’s Leader, labeling the US president a “has-been warmonger clinging to relevance.”

Reiterating Iran’s long-standing position, the mission stated, “Iran does NOT negotiate under duress, shall NOT accept peace under duress,” emphasizing that the Islamic Republic will meet any threat with a counter-threat and any hostile action with reciprocal measures.

Trump’s narrative clashes with reality

US President Donald Trump has reignited tensions with Iran through a series of provocative remarks, claiming that Tehran “wants to negotiate,” is “in a lot of trouble,” and is “totally defenseless". His comments, however, stand in stark contrast to recent developments on the ground and the broader context of US-Iran diplomacy.

Speaking at a campaign event this week, Trump alleged that Iran had reached a desperate point, saying, “They should have negotiated. Nothing is too late. Unconditional surrender means I’ve had it.” He also claimed Iran lacks effective air defenses, describing the country as “totally defenseless, with no air defense whatsoever.”

These assertions come despite the fact that Iran’s air defense systems have reportedly demonstrated significant capability in recent days. According to Iranian sources, Iranian forces successfully downed four Israeli F-35 fighter jets, intercepted multiple missile attacks, and shot down a US MQ-9 drone operating in the region.

Trump’s remarks also overlooked the status of diplomatic engagement. Prior to the current escalation, the US and Iran had completed five rounds of indirect nuclear negotiations, with a sixth round scheduled. However, that process was abruptly halted following an Israeli attack on Iranian territory, an aggression that came just two days before the sixth round of talks was due to begin.

"Israel" has justified its strikes by citing alleged Iranian nuclear ambitions, even as it continues to maintain its own undeclared and unmonitored nuclear arsenal, a point of international criticism and regional tension, not to mention its genocide in Gaza and ongoing attacks on Lebanon, Yemen, and Syria.

Trump’s framing of Iran as both eager to negotiate and militarily weak has drawn scrutiny from analysts, who point to the timing of Israeli strikes as a significant factor in disrupting talks and escalating war.

While Trump boasted that “nobody knows what I’m going to do,” Iran’s leadership and military posture suggest it is far from capitulating. Tehran has repeatedly stated it will not accept negotiations under duress, and Iranian officials have vowed to respond to any threat with proportional force.

As the rhetoric sharpens and the regional crisis deepens, diplomatic prospects continue to dim, complicated by US domestic politics and ongoing Israeli aggression.