WANA (Dec 01) – Iranian MP and member of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, Brigadier General Mohammad Esmail Kowsari, dismissed recent claims that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had acted as an intermediary between Tehran and Washington.

 

Kowsari said that despite the government’s repeated statements that the president’s message to the Saudi crown prince was solely a note of gratitude for facilitating this year’s Hajj, some individuals falsely portrayed it as a request for mediation with the United States.

 

He emphasized that the Supreme Leader had already rejected these claims, calling the allegations “lies” propagated by people who “advance their agendas through falsehoods.”

 

Iran’s Supreme Leader had previously dismissed such claims, saying: “(They) fabricate rumors that the Iranian government sent a message to America through a certain country, which is a pure lie.” He also said: “Such a government [the United States] is certainly not one the Islamic Republic seeks cooperation or relations with.”

 

Kowsari, in a recent interview, stressed that the Islamic Republic does not fear declaring its intentions: “If negotiations with the United States were on the table, the system has the courage to say so clearly. There is nothing to hide.”

 

“Iran Needs No Mediator to Talk to the U.S.”

The Tehran lawmaker asserted that Iran would never rely on a mediator such as Saudi Arabia and criticized those who raised the speculation:

 

“If Iran decides to negotiate with the U.S., it does not need weak figures like bin Salman to mediate. The U.S. is the ‘Great Satan,’ and we do not even recognize them—so sending them messages, direct or indirect, is out of the question.”

 

He added that individuals who spread such rumors did so for political gain, despite the government’s official clarifications.

 

Negotiations Only If Not Dictated

Regarding the broader possibility of Iran-U.S. talks, Kowsari reiterated that the Islamic Republic has never rejected the principle of negotiation but opposes any talks in which Washington seeks to dictate terms:

 

“We believe problems should be solved through dialogue. But when the Americans want to impose conditions—like limiting Iran’s missile program or halting enrichment—this is not negotiation; it’s coercion.”

 

He argued that those claiming Iran sent a message to Saudi Arabia for U.S. mediation “lied about the Islamic Republic.”

 

Past Talks and Regional Tensions

Kowsari also pointed out that before the recent 12-day conflict, Iran had been engaged in negotiations with the U.S., but Washington “showed no sincerity” and instead gave a “green light” to Israel to attack Iran:

 

“They imposed war on us in the middle of negotiations. International organizations not only failed to condemn these crimes but even pushed Iran to accept inspections of its nuclear sites.”

 

He criticized the International Atomic Energy Agency for not condemning attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities.

 

Warnings Over Reported Israeli Flights in Iraqi Airspace

Commenting on unconfirmed reports of Israeli fighter jets flying over Iraq near Iran’s border, Kowsari said every armed force needs to exercise; therefore, such flights could be related to Israeli military exercises. However, he insisted, “Iraqi officials must never allow foreign aircraft to fly in their airspace. Iraq is an independent country and must protect its sovereignty.”

 

He added that, according to Iraqi officials, the recent aircraft belonged to Iraq itself, but even if they had been American or Israeli, Baghdad should prevent any foreign military aircraft from entering its skies.