Iran signals no talks with U.S. under threat as Trump touts new ‘armada’ toward Gulf
Iran’s foreign minister said Tehran has not sought or held contact with Washington’s special envoy in recent days, rejecting fresh talk of backchannel diplomacy as the United States moves additional forces toward the region and President Donald Trump presses for a deal.
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Abbas Araqchi, speaking to state media on Wednesday, said there had been “no contact” with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and “no request for negotiations” from Tehran. He added that various intermediaries were “holding consultations” and were in touch with Iran, but he drew a firm line on the conditions for any direct engagement.
“Our stance is clear,” Araqchi said. “Negotiations don’t go along with threats and talks can only take place when there are no longer menaces and excessive demands.”
The comments came a day after Trump said another “armada” was “floating toward Iran,” language underscoring a sharp uptick in pressure as Washington deploys more military assets to the Gulf. The United States bolstered its posture following nationwide protests in Iran that led to the country’s bloodiest crackdown since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The twin signals — Washington’s show of force and Tehran’s refusal to talk under duress — point to a widening gap on process even as both sides keep channels with third parties open. Araqchi’s mention of intermediaries suggests regional and international go-betweens remain active, though he did not name any countries or organizations.
Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, offered a parallel message of de-escalation in a call Tuesday with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, saying Tehran welcomes any process, within international law, that prevents war. The outreach reflects a broader regional calculation: Iran and Saudi Arabia restored diplomatic relations in 2023, and Riyadh has positioned itself as a potential stabilizer amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington.
Trump, who has repeatedly framed military pressure as leverage to bring Iran to the table, said he hopes Tehran “would make a deal with Washington.” But Araqchi’s response indicates Iran views the current U.S. posture — coupled with what he called “excessive demands” — as incompatible with dialogue.
The latest military movements and rhetorical escalation follow months of unrest inside Iran. The U.S. deployments were set in motion after nationwide protests erupted and authorities launched a sweeping crackdown that rights groups and analysts have described as the most lethal since the revolution. The domestic strain has intersected with ongoing regional flashpoints and long-standing disputes over Iran’s nuclear program, missile development and support for allied groups, compounding the risk of miscalculation.
For now, the pathway to any talks appears to run through lower-temperature messaging and indirect diplomacy. Araqchi’s insistence on removing “threats” before talks, and Pezeshkian’s nod to international law, sketch out Tehran’s preconditions. Trump’s invocation of an approaching “armada” signals Washington’s intent to maintain pressure as it tests whether military deterrence can coexist with an invitation to negotiate.
Absent a shift in tone or a breakthrough via intermediaries, both sides are likely to keep trading public messages while probing for advantage at sea and in diplomatic backchannels. The risk is that the distance between pressure and provocation narrows further, leaving little room for either capital to claim de-escalation without visible concessions.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
