Iran says no response to US outreach for talks amid escalating conflict
Tehran: Iranian officials have claimed that they have not responded to private communication from the United States seeking talks, even as public statements from US President Donald Trump suggest that Tehran is keen to negotiate amid the ongoing conflict.
According to a report by Drop Site News, two Iranian officials said US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff had sent messages to Iranian authorities, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, last week exploring the possibility of resuming negotiations. The officials said Iran did not respond to these messages and also received communication routed through third countries.
A senior Iranian official was quoted as saying that the decision not to respond was taken at the highest level. “The message here is clear: Iran has once again closed the window for any direct negotiations,” the official said, adding that any decision on ceasefire rests with the country’s Supreme Leader.
In contrast, President Trump has repeatedly stated in public that Iran is seeking talks. “They want to negotiate. They want to negotiate badly,” he said, while also claiming that Iran’s military capabilities have been significantly weakened.
The White House, responding to the report, dismissed the claims as false and criticised the publication. It said the US operation against Iran would continue until its objectives are achieved.
Meanwhile, conflicting accounts have emerged. A US official told Axios that it was Iran that had initiated contact, a claim denied by Araghchi, who said his last communication with Witkoff took place before recent military strikes. “Any claim to the contrary appears geared solely to mislead oil traders and the public,” he said.
Araghchi also rejected the suggestion that Iran is seeking a ceasefire or negotiations, stating in an interview that the country would continue to defend itself. Iranian officials have maintained that they will not consider any ceasefire arrangement unless it ensures an end to future attacks.
The report also indicates that multiple countries have attempted to mediate between the two sides, but Iran has conveyed that efforts should instead be directed towards the US administration.
Amid the conflict, global oil markets have been affected. Iran has threatened to target vessels linked to the US and its allies passing through the Strait of Hormuz, leading to a sharp drop in shipping traffic through the route. Iranian officials said the strait remains open in general but restricted for certain countries.
US officials, however, said Iranian ships have been allowed to pass through without being targeted. Rising oil prices and disruptions in supply have led to concerns among global energy companies, with industry leaders reportedly warning of severe economic consequences if the situation continues.
The US has also moved to strengthen its military presence in the region, including deploying additional troops and exploring options to secure maritime routes. President Trump has called for international participation, including from NATO countries and China, though several nations have expressed reservations.
On the ground, the conflict has intensified, with continued missile and drone strikes reported across the region. Iran has indicated that it is prepared for a prolonged confrontation and may expand its strategy to apply pressure on US and allied interests.
Iranian officials have also warned against any attempt to target key infrastructure such as Kharg Island, which handles a major portion of the country’s oil exports. They said any such move would escalate the situation further.
At the diplomatic level, divisions remain visible. While some Gulf countries have blamed Iran for the escalation, Tehran has criticised them for not condemning US and Israeli actions.
The report also notes that the conflict has led to significant casualties in Iran, with authorities claiming over 1,400 deaths and thousands injured. At the same time, regional tensions remain high, with concerns that the conflict could widen further involving other actors.
Iran has indicated that any future ceasefire would need to include broader conditions, including guarantees against further attacks and international oversight.
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Moodbidri Police Inspector accused of sexual harassment; Panambur ACP to investigate
Mangaluru: The City Police Commissioner has directed the Mangaluru (North) Assistant Commissioner of Police to investigate a complaint filed by the wife of a man arrested by Moodbidri Police accusing the station inspector on grounds of sexual harassment.
The complainant’s husband has reportedly been arrested for embezzling money, with Moodbidri Police filing a case against him. The wife has now said that Moodbidri Police Station Inspector Sandesh BG told her that he would produce a rowdy-sheet against her husband unless she had sex with him and paid him Rs 25 lakh.
Several TV channels are also learned to have carried the news of her complaint on Monday. The officers of the State Women’s Commission, who noticed the news, reportedly approached the City Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy and requested him to get the matter probed.
Speaking to reporters, Reddy denied having received any complaint filed by a woman against the Moodbidri Inspector. “We will probe the matter and take immediate action upon receiving any such complaint. In the backdrop of the alleged complaint filed against the Moodbidri Inspector, I have directed Panambur ACP Shrikanth to investigate and submit a report. Immediate legal action will be taken as soon as we get the report,” he said.
The senior officer further said, “The complainant is not on good terms with her sister and has also accused the inspector of having been biased in favour of her sister. The matter is in court but we have taken no action against the inspector since he has been carrying out his duties diligently.”
The Commissioner also clarified that, while the woman showed a video clip of the Moodbidri Inspector jumping a wall, the Police Department is unable to take action until the owner of the house files a complaint in the matter.
Reddy added that the complainant had not produced any audio clip as evidence.
