Reza Amiri Moghadam, Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan, denied on Wednesday that Tehran and Washington were in talks, defying statements made by US President Donald Trump that suggested the crisis was getting closer to a resolution.
The envoy told AFP, “We have heard such reports in the media, but according to my information, no direct or indirect talks have taken place so far.”
He described the present conflicts as “illegitimate aggression,” adding that although friendly nations frequently try to mediate, there was no real engagement between the two sides.
Iran’s military likewise questioned Washington’s claims of diplomacy, echoing the ambassador’s stance.
According to state media, Ebrahim Zolfaqari, a spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, stated that the US was essentially “negotiating with itself.”
He emphasized that pre-war economic conditions would not return unless Washington changed its strategy, warning that regional stability would remain dependent on Iran’s military posture.
Fighting escalated around the Middle East amid the diplomatic spat, and Iran launched a new round of missiles and drones early on Wednesday.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claim that the assaults targeted both Israel and places in Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain that are home to US military.
There have been reports of air raid sirens throughout central Israel, and missile tracks have been seen over Netanya.
Jordan confirmed falling debris near Amman, while a drone strike in Kuwait struck a fuel tank at the international airport, starting a fire. In reaction to the threat, Bahrain also triggered its air defense systems.
The battle started on February 28 after the United States and Israel launched synchronized strikes on Iran. Since then, it has extended throughout the Middle East, further destabilizing an already unstable region.
Gulf countries, which were previously thought to be rather stable, are now dealing with increasing security threats, which have a significant influence on the travel and aviation industries.
Israeli military have escalated operations against Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon as a result of the bloodshed. In the midst of extensive damage in Beirut’s southern suburbs, authorities report that over a million people have been displaced and over 1,000 people have died.
Trump maintained that talks were going on despite Tehran’s denials.
He stated, “We are in negotiations right now,” asserting that Iran has made a “very big present” related to the vital Strait of Hormuz. However, he did not elaborate.
Although indications point to potential backchannel diplomacy utilizing middlemen like Pakistan, Iranian authorities have not officially confirmed the assertion.
According to reports, the US is getting ready for greater escalation, which may include sending more troops to the area.
Given its importance in the world’s oil supply, the Strait of Hormuz continues to be a crucial flashpoint in the situation.
Iran promised that “non-hostile vessels” will be permitted safe passage in a statement distributed by the International Maritime Organization.
It did, however, issue a warning that ships associated with Israel and the United States, which it referred to as “aggressor parties,” might not be allowed entry.
Global markets have already been shaken by the disruption, which has forced nations to reduce their energy use and airlines to cancel or reroute flights.
The conflict’s wider economic ramifications are starting to surface.
Jean-Marie Paugam, a top World Trade Organization official, issued a warning that supply disruptions, especially in fertilizers, might have long-term consequences for the world’s food output.
“If fertilizer supplies are impacted, it will affect both output and prices, with effects carrying into future harvests,” he stated.
Uncertainty in the Middle East and the world economy is still fueled by the stark differences between Tehran and Washington and the escalating military actions, despite tentative signs of diplomacy.
