The key facts

  • Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi said no talks with the US are planned
  • Tehran is studying a message from Vice President Vance to official Mohsen Rezaei
  • Trump denied the WSJ report about peace talks, calling Vance's role humanitarian

Tehran denies reports of readiness for contacts

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday that Tehran does not plan to hold talks with American officials, calling reports to the contrary unfounded. According to him, Iran has carefully studied the message sent by US Vice President JD Vance to senior Iranian security official Mohsen Rezaei, and the matter remains under consideration by the relevant agencies, the IRNA agency reports (citing it — Anadolu).

Contradiction over Vance's role

The Wall Street Journal, citing American officials, previously reported that Vance sent a message to Rezaei at the instruction of President Donald Trump in order to resume peace talks. Trump denied this report, asserting that Vance's role was limited to helping deliver necessary medicines to Iran. Araghchi's statement effectively diverges from the WSJ version: the Iranian minister confirmed only the fact that the message was being studied, but ruled out preparations for talks.

Context of mediation and the memorandum

The statement came against the backdrop of mediation efforts by Qatar and Pakistan to resume talks between Washington and Tehran; progress in indirect contacts in Doha was reported. The talks concern agreements on Iran's nuclear program, sanctions, and shipping security in the Strait of Hormuz. According to Anadolu, the US and Israel began attacks on Iran on February 28; Tehran responded with strikes on Israel and American facilities in the region, after which a ceasefire agreement was reached in April. On June 18, Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding on freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, but its implementation stalled due to disagreements over security issues in the strait.