Tehran rejects US message claims, blasts US moves in Caribbean

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
Today 11:48

Iran's Foreign Ministry refutes reports of US backchannel diplomacy through Oman, saying recent diplomatic visits did not include message exchanges.

Listen

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei is seen here in an undated photo. (IRNA)

Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Saturday denied reports that the United States had conveyed diplomatic messages to Tehran through Oman, dismissing speculation linked to a recent visit by an Iranian official to Muscat.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry's spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, clarified that Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi “did not convey any messages from the US” during his trip to the Omani capital.

Speaking at his weekly press conference, Baghaei acknowledged that regional mediators “continue their efforts to bridge differences” between Tehran and Washington, as they have done in previous rounds of indirect diplomacy.

However, he emphasized that such exchanges should not be mistaken for the resumption of formal talks.

Talks collapse under the weight of unrealistic US demands

The first round of indirect talks between Iran and the United States was held in Muscat on April 12, 2025, with Omani mediation between Tehran and Washington. Iranian officials described the atmosphere as “positive” at the time but stressed that the dialogue would only continue if the United States respected Iran’s sovereign right to peaceful nuclear activity. The discussions focused on sanctions relief and limits to enrichment, but Tehran ruled out any face-to-face meetings.

By early June 2025, sources told Al Mayadeen that progress had stalled as Iran accused Washington of sending “contradictory messages” through mediators. Tehran warned that any move against its nuclear program by the International Atomic Energy Agency would directly affect the talks, signaling growing frustration and setting the stage for the eventual collapse of indirect negotiations.

On June 13, 2025, the Israeli occupation forces launched a sweeping aggression against Iran, dubbed “Operation Rising Lion”. The strikes targeted civilian buildings, multiple facilities in Tehran, Natanz, and Isfahan, as well as senior commanders of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iranian nuclear scientists. Iran retaliated with Operation True Promise 3, sending missile salvoes and drones every day to strike the occupation.

The US struck Iranian nuclear sites on the final day, with Iran retaliating and striking the US' al-Udeid base in Qatar.

On June 24, 2025, Iran and "Israel" reached a ceasefire following 12 days of intense exchanges, which dealt significant blows to "Israel" despite its attempts to hide it. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the ceasefire as a clear admission of Tel Aviv’s defeat and a strategic turning point in the regional balance of power.

On July 8, 2025, Tehran revealed it had received informal messages from Washington expressing interest in resuming nuclear talks, but said that “a minimum level of trust” no longer existed after the US-led strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities with the aim of obliterating the entire program. Iranian officials stressed that any new dialogue must respect the country’s right to enrichment and be based on mutual guarantees rather than “empty promises.”

By July 15, 2025, Iran declared that the United States’ continued insistence on halting uranium enrichment made further negotiations “meaningless”. Tehran also criticized Washington’s use of political pressure and threats of sanctions, saying such tactics proved the US was not genuinely seeking a diplomatic solution.

On July 22, 2025, the Iranian Foreign Ministry confirmed that talks with Washington had effectively collapsed, blaming “US obstruction and unrealistic demands.” The statement added that Tehran would no longer pursue indirect negotiations through mediators, marking the end of the most recent attempt to revive the nuclear track with the United States.

Wider context

On July 20, 2025, Iran and the E3 (The UK, France, and Germany) publicly announced an agreement in principle to resume nuclear talks.

Tehran emphasized that its right to uranium enrichment must be respected in any future deal, reaffirming its stance that “enrichment is our right, and it must be respected” during the Istanbul-based discussions held later in July.

By August 3, 2025, Iran confirmed that while talks with the E3 were ongoing, the process remained under serious strain with “complex and difficult circumstances.” The Iranian delegation insisted that its sovereign rights under the 2015 nuclear deal must be honored and cautioned against any move from Europe that might rely on political pressure or the activation of snap-back sanctions.

The definitive collapse came on September 28, 2025, when the E3 triggered the snapback sanctions mechanism under UN Security Council Resolution 2231, citing “persistent and significant non-performance” by Tehran of its nuclear commitments.

Tehran swiftly rejected the move as politically destructive, stating that the European action marked the end of meaningful diplomacy under the present framework.

Iran criticizes ceasefire violations in Gaza, holds guarantors accountable

The Iranian top diplomat also addressed the situation in Gaza, condemning “Israel’s” repeated breaches of the ongoing ceasefire and calling on truce guarantor states to fulfill their responsibilities in upholding the fragile agreement.

He pointed to the inaction of the UN Security Council and the unwavering support provided by “Israel’s” allies as factors that have emboldened Tel Aviv’s continued human rights violations.

Baghaei reaffirmed Tehran’s unwavering position, stating that Iran will “continue to stand by the Palestinian people in their struggle until the aggression ends and the blockade on Gaza is lifted.”

Tehran condemns US military operations in Latin America

Turning to the Western Hemisphere, Baghaei condemned the United States’ recent military maneuvers in the Caribbean and Latin America, describing them as “actions that undermine international peace and security.”

He rejected Washington’s claims that the operations are part of a counter-narcotics mission, labeling them a pretext for meddling in Venezuela’s internal affairs and a breach of international law.

“No country has the right to invoke the fight against transnational organized crime, including drug trafficking, as a reason to violate another nation’s sovereignty,” Baghaei stated.

Tehran’s remarks highlight its firm opposition to expanding US military presence near allied nations, viewing such actions as unjustified provocations that threaten regional sovereignty and stability.