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White House Says US-Iran Talks "Going Well" Despite Tehran's Denial of Direct Contact

The White House asserts that diplomatic engagement with Iran is continuing and making progress through backchannels, despite Tehran's public denial of any direct negotiations. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that private communications differ significantly from Iran's public posturing. Iran confirmed exchanging messages through intermediaries like Pakistan but firmly rejected having direct talks with the United States. The US warned that President Trump has options to impose costs if Iran does not engage constructively.

Key Points: US-Iran Talks Continue Despite Tehran's Denial, Says White House

  • White House says talks are ongoing
  • Iran denies direct negotiations
  • Messages exchanged via intermediaries
  • US warns of consequences if talks fail
  • Public rhetoric differs from private messages
2 min read

White House claims US-Iran talks "continuing, going well" despite Tehran denying "direct negotiations"

White House claims backchannel talks with Iran are progressing well, while Tehran denies any direct negotiations, citing messages via intermediaries like Pakistan.

"Despite all of the public posturing... talks are continuing and going well. - Karoline Leavitt"

Washington DC, March 31

The White House on Monday said that communication between the United States and Iran is ongoing and "going well", even as Tehran has maintained that there have been no "direct" talks between the two sides.

Addressing reporters during a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that despite negative public rhetoric from Iran, engagement through diplomatic channels continues and is making progress.

Leavitt said that public statements from Tehran differ from what is being conveyed privately. "It's no surprise that we are seeing the remaining elements of the regime become increasingly eager to end the destruction and come to the negotiating table while they still can," she said.

"Despite all of the public posturing you hear from the regime and false reporting, talks are continuing and going well. What is said publicly is, of course, much different than what's being communicated to us privately," the Press Secretary added.

The White House maintained that backchannel discussions remain active.

Earlier in the day, Iran said that it has not held any "direct" negotiations with the United States, while confirming that messages have been exchanged through intermediaries.

According to state media, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said during a press conference, "We have not had any direct negotiations with the US. Since the last round of negotiations, what has been discussed are the messages we have received through some intermediaries, including Pakistan, regarding the US's willingness and request for negotiations."

He also slammed the US, stating that while Washington's stance has been constantly changing, Tehran has had a clear stance on the negotiations.

Leavitt further warned that if Iran does not engage constructively or rejects a possible agreement, US President Donald Trump has several options to "ensure this regime continues to pay a grave price one way or another."

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Rohit P
Interesting that Pakistan is mentioned as an intermediary. For all the tensions, they still manage to position themselves as a go-between. Hope our diplomats are also actively engaged. Stability in the Gulf is crucial for us, with so many Indian expats working there and our oil imports. 🤔
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David E
The White House press secretary's tone seems quite aggressive, almost threatening Iran to come to the table "while they still can." This kind of public pressure might backfire and make Iran dig its heels in further. A more subtle approach might yield better results.
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Aman W
As an Indian, my main concern is how this affects our relationship with Iran. We have historic ties and important projects like Chabahar. The US's "maximum pressure" policy has made it very difficult for us to balance relations with both Washington and Tehran. Hope diplomacy wins.
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Sarah B
The article highlights a common problem in international relations: the gap between public statements and private communications. It creates confusion for the rest of the world trying to understand the real situation. Clarity would be helpful for global markets and stability.
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Vikram M
Respectfully, I think the White House statement is trying to spin the narrative. If talks were truly "going well," Iran wouldn't be so publicly dismissive. The threat of "paying a grave price" sounds more like coercion than diplomacy. This approach rarely works in the long term for such complex issues.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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