Iran's Foreign Ministry: Received messages for peace from friendly countries, no negotiations with the US

This article is reprinted from [Xinhua News Agency];

On March 23, the spokesperson of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bahram Qasemi, said that Iran has received messages from some friendly countries in recent days regarding the U.S. request to end the war through negotiations. Iran has responded appropriately based on its principles and stance and has not held any negotiations with the United States.

In an interview with the Islamic Republic News Agency, Bahram Qasemi emphasized that for 24 days since the large-scale attack launched by the U.S. and Israel against Iran, Iran has never engaged in any negotiations or consultations with the U.S. He stated that Iran’s position on the Strait of Hormuz and the conditions for ending this imposed war have not changed.

Bahram Qasemi said that Iran has issued necessary warnings, stating that any attack on Iran’s critical infrastructure will have serious consequences, and emphasized that any actions targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure will be met with decisive, swift, and effective retaliation by Iran’s armed forces.

U.S. President Donald Trump posted on social media on the evening of the 21st, demanding Iran open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, or else he would strike and destroy Iran’s “various power plants.” Earlier on the 23rd, Trump claimed that the U.S. and Iran had conducted a “very good and productive” dialogue over the past two days, and that the U.S. would “delay the attack on Iran’s power plants by five days.” He later said that the U.S. and Iran “might reach an agreement within five days or even sooner.”

According to Axios News, Israeli officials said that several coordinating countries are trying to facilitate talks between Iran’s Islamic Parliament Speaker, Ali Larijani, U.S. Special Envoy for Iran, Brian Hook, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Vice President Kamala Harris in Islamabad, Pakistan, possibly later this week.