{"id":8662,"date":"2025-11-19T12:55:18","date_gmt":"2025-11-19T20:55:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iranreport.org\/?p=8662"},"modified":"2025-11-19T12:57:29","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T20:57:29","slug":"iran-responds-to-trumps-claim-of-nuclear-talks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iranreport.org\/?p=8662","title":{"rendered":"Iran Responds to Trump\u2019s Claim of Nuclear Talks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Iran sharply rejected any notion of negotiations with the United States on Wednesday, directly contradicting President Donald Trump\u2019s claim a day earlier that talks were underway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The public rebuke highlights the deep mistrust between\u00a0the two nations\u00a0and underscores the fragility of efforts to resolve tensions over nuclear proliferation and regional security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Newsweek<\/em> has contacted the State Department via email comment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why It Matters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The standoff underscores the perilous state of U.S.-Iran relations, especially as military action and regional conflicts continue to escalate tensions. Earlier this year, Washington supported Israel\u2019s\u00a012-day war\u00a0against Iran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These events deepened\u00a0Tehran\u2019s distrust of direct negotiations, signaling that any attempt at diplomacy faces significant obstacles. The divide complicates U.S. efforts to secure a deal on nuclear proliferation while keeping the broader\u00a0Middle East stable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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President Donald Trump, left, and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia at the White House on November 18, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What to Know<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere is no process of negotiation between Iran and the United States,\u201d Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told reporters in Tehran on Wednesday. Baghaei reiterated Iran\u2019s long-standing position that engaging with the U.S. is illogical while Washington continues to prioritize military pressure over diplomacy. \u201cAs the foreign minister has said many times, talking to a side that does not believe in mutual respect and takes pride in military aggression against Iran has no logical justification,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump’s Iran Claim<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

On Tuesday, Trump told reporters at the White House<\/a> that he believed Tehran was eager for an agreement. Speaking alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Trump said, \u201cI am totally open to it, and we\u2019re talking to them, and we start a process.\u201d He added, \u201cIt would be a nice thing to have a deal with Iran,\u201d suggesting that Saudi support could facilitate negotiations. While Trump presented an optimistic narrative, Tehran\u2019s comments indicate the reality on the ground remains far more complex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nuclear Talks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Washington and Tehran engaged in talks earlier this year over Iran\u2019s nuclear program and regional influence. However, those discussions stalled following heightened military tensions<\/a>. In June, Israel conducted a 12-day campaign targeting Iranian interests, and the U.S. subsequently carried out strikes on key Iranian nuclear facilities. These events underscored the volatility of the region and contributed to Tehran\u2019s reluctance to reenter negotiations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Pezeshkian’s Letter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Baghaei also addressed reports suggesting that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian<\/a> had sent a message to the Saudi crown prince, clarifying that the communication was strictly bilateral and did not involve the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In response to Trump\u2019s claim that the U.S. was in talks with Iran, Mohammed bin Salman, widely known as MBS, told the president that Riyadh was ready to help facilitate a deal. \u201cI will be working closely on the issue, and we will do our best to help reach a deal between America and Iran,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei holds a weekly press conference in Tehran on October 28, 2024.\u00a0|\u00a0Atta Kenare\/AFP via Getty<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Meanwhile on Wednesday, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director general Rafael Grossi said the agency is in regular contact with Iranian authorities to ensure full inspections of Tehran\u2019s nuclear sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur inspectors are back in Iran and have carried out inspections at facilities unaffected by June\u2019s [Israeli and American] attacks, but more engagement is needed to restore full inspections,\u201d\u00a0Grossi wrote on X\u00a0following the IAEA\u2019s Board of Governors meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Today at the @IAEAorg<\/a> Board of Governors, I reported on our ongoing efforts to uphold nuclear safety, security and safeguards worldwide and to strengthen the benefits of nuclear science and technology.

Our inspectors are back in Iran and have carried out inspections at\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/gdzljsXYq4<\/a><\/p>— Rafael Mariano Grossi (@rafaelmgrossi) November 19, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>