Iran again denied on Monday that it is holding direct negotiations with the United States, but did acknowledge the exchange of messages through intermediaries such as Pakistan. "First of all, we have not had any direct negotiations with the United States to date," said Ismail Bagaei, spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at a press conference. The diplomat confirmed that what has been received so far are messages "through intermediaries about the interest of the United States in negotiating," but described the proposals received as "excessive and irrational demands." Bagaei also criticized the United States for Israel's attacks in June and the start of the war in both cases when negotiations were underway. "Reiterating this fact is important so that world public opinion does not forget that Iran, as a rational and responsible actor, entered the diplomatic path, and it was the United States that destroyed the negotiation process on both occasions," he said. "I don't know how many people in the United States take their country's diplomacy claims seriously," he added. Regarding the summit held in Pakistan and which was attended by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt, he assured that his country did not participate. "The meetings that Pakistan holds with neighboring countries are framed within a scheme designed by themselves, and we have not participated in that framework," said Ismail Bagaei, spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at a press conference. The diplomat stated that "the fact that the countries of the region are concerned about the end of the war is positive." After that summit, Islamabad assured that it will host in the "coming days" negotiations between the United States and Iran to seek an end to the war, something that Tehran has not confirmed.
