WANA (Jan 12) – The spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied any talks between Iran’s foreign minister and the US president’s special envoy regarding Iran’s internal issues or developments.

 

In response to reporters’ questions, Esmail Baghaei rejected claims by some US media outlets that Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, had held talks with Steve Witkoff, the US president’s special envoy, about Iran’s domestic affairs.

 

In recent hours, several American media outlets had claimed that Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, and Steve Witkoff, the US president’s special envoy, discussed on President Donald Trump’s alleged threat to use military force against Iran in support of protesters.

 

These false claims were made despite the fact that, during his press briefing, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson had earlier responded to journalists’ questions about remarks by the US president, who said he had received a request from Iran for negotiations and, at the same time, made ambiguous comments suggesting that he might take action prior to any talks.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaee attends a press conference in Tehran, Iran, August 4, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

Asked whether the channel of communication between Iran and the United States—namely between Mr. Araghchi and Mr. Witkoff—still exists, and whether the US president’s remarks about negotiations with Iran were accurate, Baghaei said: “As I have stated before, the communication channel between Iran’s foreign minister and the US president’s special envoy remains open, and whenever necessary, messages are exchanged through it. This channel exists alongside the official channel, which you are aware is the Swiss Embassy as the protecting power for US interests in Iran.”

 

Baghaei added, in response to the second part of the question: “Yes, the American side has raised certain ideas and proposals. This morning, the honorable foreign minister also stated, during a meeting with ambassadors based in Tehran, that the Islamic Republic of Iran is, in principle, a country that has never left the negotiating table. Over the course of decades, we have remained committed to diplomacy and to negotiations. However, negotiations must be meaningful—based on the recognition of mutual interests and concerns—not one-sided talks based on dictates. I believe that contradictory messages on this issue will only lead to ambiguity in approaches.”