Iran Calls U.S. Push for Nuclear Talks a Strategic Deception

According to Rokna, citing Reuters, on Thursday, Iran's Foreign Ministry described claims by the United States that it seeks a diplomatic resolution to Iran's nuclear program as a “deception.”

Steve Witkoff, the U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, had stated on Wednesday that Washington is in talks with Tehran and that the U.S. holds a “desire” to achieve a lasting solution to the dispute.

The United States, along with its European allies and Israel, accuses Iran of using its nuclear program as a cover to develop weapons capabilities. Iran, in turn, maintains that its nuclear program is intended solely for peaceful purposes.

Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said, “America’s claim of desiring diplomacy is nothing more than a deception and blatant contradiction. One cannot simultaneously bomb a nation while conducting diplomatic negotiations and claim to pursue diplomacy.”

Prior to the 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel in June, during which the U.S. participated by striking key nuclear sites, Tehran and Washington held five rounds of nuclear negotiations. However, significant obstacles remained, such as uranium enrichment on Iranian soil, which Western powers insist must be reduced to zero to prevent weaponization.

On August 28, Britain, France, and Germany initiated a 30-day process to reinstate U.N. sanctions—commonly referred to as “snapback”—set to conclude on September 27. These powers accuse Tehran of failing to comply with the 2015 nuclear deal intended to prevent weapon development.

The European countries have indicated a willingness to postpone the reimposition of sanctions for up to six months if Iran restores access for U.N. nuclear inspectors, addresses concerns regarding its enriched uranium stockpile, and engages in direct talks with the United States.

A source familiar with Iran’s diplomatic communications told Reuters that “several messages have been sent to Washington in recent weeks via mediators seeking a resumption of talks, but there has been no response from the Americans.”

Speaking at a summit on Wednesday, Witkoff said, “We are in discussions with them. I believe there is a desire to achieve a permanent solution and negotiate around the snapbacks. If that fails, snapbacks will take effect—they are the appropriate remedy for the situation.”

During a separate meeting with anti-war activists in New York on Wednesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian questioned, “In what language must we state our willingness to respect frameworks if they do not? What kind of negotiation is it if they demand we honor our commitments while violating their own?”

Earlier, he described the return of international sanctions as “unpleasant, yet not the end of the road.”

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also weighed in on Tuesday, declaring that negotiations with Washington would not be in Iran’s best interest.