Iran says no talks with US, vows to continue defending itself

The spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, Esmaeil Baghaei, says no one can trust US diplomacy after the aggression against Iran during negotiations.

During an interview with India Today news outlet on Wednesday, Baghaei said the Israeli-US aggression against Iran during the indirect negotiations was a “betrayal of diplomacy.”

The US entered negotiations with Iran twice, and both times attacked Iran, he added.

"We made it clear yesterday there is no talks or negotiations between Iran and the US. We’ve had a very catastrophic experience, I should say, of the US diplomacy," he said.

"We were attacked two times within a span of nine months when we were in the middle of a negotiating process to resolve the nuclear issue. So this was a betrayal of diplomacy," he stated.

Baghaei rejected US President Donald Trump’s claim that Washington and Tehran have entered ceasefire negotiations.

“There has been no contact between Iran and the US in the past 24 days, and Iranian armed forces continue to defend the country’s territorial integrity.”

According to the spokesman, Iran has received requests over the past several days from various countries offering to mediate negotiations between Tehran and Washington.

"I cannot deny the fact that many countries in the region and beyond have approached Iran with offers to act as mediators in talks between Iran and the United States.

“These messages have been coming in for several days. We received requests regarding such negotiations and responded to them. Our position is clear: we continue to defend ourselves," Baghaei said.

He added that US and Israeli statements about intentions to hold talks with Iran are not trustworthy, since they initiated the terrorist war on Tehran.

Speaking about Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's meetings with counterparts from neighboring countries, including Pakistan, Baghaei stressed that he sees friendly intentions from neighbors to de-escalate the region.

"Pakistan is, of course, our neighbor. We have good relations with Pakistan, as with other neighbors. We believe they have good intentions. Our foreign minister maintains contact with counterparts from neighboring countries.

“Such talks are held between Iran, its neighbors, and other friendly countries. We understand that regional states and neighboring countries are concerned about the consequences, and everyone is trying in some way to help ease the situation," Baghaei added.

Baghaei also said Iran will “absolutely” continue charging countries and vessels fees for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, as the key shipping route remains heavily restricted.

“A series of measures is in place for passage through the Strait of Hormuz due to the war situation imposed on Iran,” he said in the interview.

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In an earlier statement on Monday, Baghaei emphasized that the Islamic Republic has neither had any contact with Washington since the launch of the joint US-Israeli war of aggression, nor has it changed its position on the Strait of Hormuz and the conditions for ending the imposed war.

He stated that messages through some friendly countries have been received, over the past few days, requesting negotiations from the US to end the war, to which Iran has responded appropriately and in line with its principles.

In these responses, he added that necessary warnings were given about the severe consequences of any attack on Iran's critical infrastructure, and that such a scenario would result in a decisive, immediate, and effective response from the Iranian armed forces.

On February 28, the US and Israel launched an illegal military offensive that included the assassination of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and multiple senior commanders.

In response, Iran has conducted waves of retaliatory missile and drone strikes against US interests across West Asia and Israeli positions in the occupied territories.

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