Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi denies claims of direct contact with the US

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has responded to claims that Iran is in direct contact with US President Donald Trump's Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff.

In a statement on his social media account, Araghchi said, "My last contact with Mr. Witkoff was before his boss decided to kill diplomacy with another illegal military attack on Iran.

Any narrative claiming otherwise is intended solely to mislead oil market actors and the public," he stated.

"Direct contact" claims in Western media

In recent days, various claims have surfaced in Western media suggesting that direct contact had been established between Iran and the US. The US-based news site Axios had alleged that direct communication had been established between Witkoff and Araghchi, and that messages were being exchanged between the two, particularly regarding ending the war.