How failing US-Iran diplomacy is giving way to fresh confrontation
Iran's dismissal of secret talks with Washington comes as diplomacy is in impasse, the Strait of Hormuz remains contested and Iranian commanders signal a potentially more aggressive military posture.
TEHRAN — Iran has denied that it held secret negotiations with the United States through Iraqi Kurdistan, dismissing reports of a backchannel to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as "fabricated" and part of "psychological and media warfare."
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said at a press briefing Monday that claims of any such meeting in Erbil were designed to suggest divisions between Iran's civilian negotiators and the powerful Guards. According to Iranian Students' News Agency, he insisted there had been "unprecedented unity" among Iran's institutions over war and peace.
The denial came as the 60-day period outlined in the June US-Iran memorandum of understanding expired without a final agreement or renewal. Tehran disputes describing it as a deadline, arguing that the period was intended for negotiations rather than an ultimatum.
The distinction, however, does little to alter the broader reality: The diplomatic framework that temporarily interrupted the conflict has failed to open up a path to the next stage of negotiations. The text of the memorandum called for the two sides to reach a final agreement within a maximum of 60 days, extendable by mutual consent. That has not been accomplished.
