The White House revealed that Donald Trump refuses to open talks with Iran at this time, despite contacts through Middle Eastern diplomats, while Iran continues to firmly deny having contacted Trump's special envoy to request negotiations.
A senior White House official disclosed that U.S. President Donald Trump has rejected efforts to revive negotiations with Iran at this time, even though Iran attempted diplomatic contacts in recent days.
Two White House officials told CNN that Iranian officials have tried to contact Steve Witkoff, President Trump's special envoy for the Middle East, as well as other U.S. government officials, to reopen diplomatic channels for negotiations.
However, sources said that President Trump has informed his team that he does not want to open negotiations at this time.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, whom White House officials said tried to contact Witkoff, denied having any contact with Trump's special envoy in recent days.
Araghchi posted a message on the X platform on Monday stating:
"My last contact with Mr. Witkoff occurred before his boss decided to destroy diplomacy by carrying out another illegal military attack against Iran. Any claims to the contrary seem intended only to mislead oil traders and the public."
The conflicting reports between the two sides, along with Trump's directives to his team, reflect that the conflict is likely to continue in the near term. Previously, Axios and Drop Site News were the first media to report on the differing information regarding attempts to negotiate.
At the same time, some of the U.S.'s Middle Eastern allies informed the White House they were ready to mediate negotiations concerning Iran's nuclear program and the possibility of ending the conflict, but these offers were also rejected at this time.
White House officials also noted that another reason Trump is unwilling to open negotiations now is because the U.S. government is unsure whether Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran's new Supreme Leader, actually holds real power.
President Trump told reporters on Monday that he is not even certain whether Khamenei is still alive, as the leader has not appeared publicly since his appointment was announced.
Trump said, "Many people say he was seriously injured; some say he lost a leg... while others say he is dead. No one can confirm he is 100% healthy. Even though his appointment has been announced, no one has seen him, which is unusual."
. Source:CNN
Click to read more aboutInternational News