...
By Amir Daftari
News Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Iran and the United States are exchanging messages but formal negotiations have not begun, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said on Monday.
“Messages are still being passed through various intermediaries, but this does not in any way mean the start of a negotiation process,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said, signaling Tehran’s caution.
The statement comes as U.S. President Donald Trump framed the communications as a sign of potential progress, saying U.S. military action had neutralized Tehran’s nuclear capability and describing a possible deal with Iran as “the key to peace in the Middle East.”
Read More on World
In a CBS 60 Minutes interview on Sunday, Trump said, “You essentially had a nuclear Iran, and I blasted the hell out of ’em.” He added that strikes were calibrated to deter Iran while leaving room for diplomacy.
“We knocked the hell out of Iran, and then it was time to stop, and we stopped,” Trump said.
Newsweek has contacted the State Department and Iran’s Foreign Ministry for comment.
Why It Matters
The U.S.-Iran dynamic remains central to Middle East stability. Past attempts to negotiate limits on Tehran’s nuclear program—including five rounds of talks earlier this year—have repeatedly stalled, with Israel launching a surprise military campaign and U.S. airstrikes targeting major nuclear sites. Trump’s framing of military deterrence as enabling diplomacy underscores the broader challenge facing Washington, which is balancing force with engagement to influence Iran’s behavior while maintaining regional security and supporting Arab-Israeli normalization.
...
What To Know
Speaking during his weekly press briefing, Baqaei emphasized that intermediary messages did not constitute official talks.
“Whenever we reach the stage of negotiations, decisions will be made regarding the composition of the negotiating team and other details,” he said, adding, “At present, the conditions for a meaningful dialogue are not in place.”
Baqaei also reiterated that in any talks, Iran’s rights and interests under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty “must be respected.”
Trump's Interview
In contrast to Tehran’s cautious stance, Trump framed U.S. military and diplomatic pressure as a tool to create conditions for engagement and advance regional stability. He emphasized that constraining Iran was central to Middle East peace, saying, “They have no nuclear capability, no.” Trump also praised U.S. pilots for operations conducted in Iranian airspace.
The U.S. president presented these actions as both a demonstration of U.S. strength and its openness to diplomacy, suggesting that Iran’s willingness to engage—even indirectly—could help advance Arab-Israeli normalization and foster broader Gulf cooperation.
...
The Nuclear Dispute
In a separate interview on Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said, Tehran was “not in a hurry” to restart talks with the U.S. over its nuclear program. Araghchi told Al Jazeera Arabic that Iran remained willing to engage in indirect negotiations with Washington but only if the U.S. approached discussions “from an equal position based on mutual interest.”
Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for energy production and medical research. The International Atomic Energy Agency has repeatedly urged Tehran to clarify unresolved questions about its enrichment activities, reflecting ongoing tensions between U.S. accusations and Iran’s official explanations.
What People Are Saying
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei: “Our rights and interests must be respected. … If the other side develops a realistic understanding and shows respect for Iran’s legitimate rights, then we can say conditions for meaningful dialogue will exist. At this stage, we are not there yet.”
What Happens Next
With back-channel messaging ongoing but formal negotiations on hold, Tehran has made it clear that dialogue will proceed only under favorable conditions. U.S. and regional officials continue balancing military deterrence with diplomatic outreach, leaving the future of U.S.-Iran relations and broader Middle East stability uncertain.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines