TEHRAN: Iran has rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that Tehran requested the continuation of negotiations with Washington, insisting that no such request was made.
In a statement, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied Trump’s assertion that Iran had approached the United States to keep diplomatic talks ongoing.
A spokesperson for the ministry said Iran did not ask for negotiations with the United States but confirmed that Tehran had agreed to receive Qatari mediators.
“We did not request negotiations with the United States. However, we accepted the visit of Qatari mediators to Iran,” the spokesperson said.
According to Reuters, the Iranian Foreign Ministry also warned that if the United States violates any provision of the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Iran will respond in a reciprocal manner.
Iranian state television quoted the spokesperson as saying that any breach of commitments by Washington would be met with a proportionate and reciprocal response.
“The response to any violation of commitments by the United States will be mutual and proportionate,” the spokesperson said, according to Iranian state media.
The remarks came a day after President Trump claimed that Iran had requested the continuation of negotiations and that the United States had agreed to the request.
Trump also said that Washington had made it clear that the previous ceasefire arrangement had come to an end.
The differing statements underscore the contrasting public positions being taken by Tehran and Washington regarding the status of diplomatic engagement between the two countries.
At the time of reporting, neither side had announced details of any confirmed schedule for future negotiations, and the claims made by both governments remain part of their respective official positions.
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