U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington is holding “very good talks” with Iran, despite repeated statements from Tehran denying that direct negotiations are taking place.
Speaking in an interview with Fox News on Wednesday, Trump said Iran may be unwilling to publicly acknowledge the discussions but insisted diplomatic engagement was progressing.
“Iranians may not want to admit it,” Trump said. “What matters is what they do.” He added that he believes Tehran wants to reach an agreement with Washington and warned that diplomacy remained the preferred option, while cautioning that failure to secure a deal could have serious consequences.
“We’ll see what happens,” Trump said. “If they don’t make a deal, things will become very bad.”
Trump’s comments follow renewed diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions after months of military confrontation and uncertainty surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme.
Iran, however, has continued to deny that direct negotiations with the United States are underway.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei recently reiterated that Tehran is not engaged in direct talks with Washington and has no immediate plans to host or send official delegations for negotiations.
The conflicting statements highlight continuing uncertainty over the status of diplomatic contacts between the two countries. While U.S. officials have suggested communication channels remain open, Iranian authorities maintain that no formal direct dialogue is taking place.
Earlier this week, Trump said he had postponed a planned military strike against Iran after several regional leaders urged Washington to allow diplomacy more time. He argued that negotiations still offered an opportunity to avoid further escalation.
Regional governments, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Pakistan, have also stepped up diplomatic efforts aimed at encouraging dialogue between Tehran and Washington.
Relations between the United States and Iran have remained strained for decades over Tehran’s nuclear programme, U.S. sanctions and broader regional security issues.
