Iran Discussed US Message in High-Level Meetings, Rules Out Direct Talks

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that Tehran has discussed a message sent by US Vice President J.D. Vance to a senior Iranian official during high-level meetings. However, Araghchi emphasized that there are currently no plans for direct talks with the United States. He stated in press remarks that the American message was a focus of discussion within senior meetings in Iran, without elaborating on the nature of Iran's response or subsequent steps. Vance, who previously led the US delegation in negotiation rounds, sent the message last week to a high-ranking Iranian official. Reports from The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal indicated the message included an offer to resume talks aimed at ending the war. Conversely, US President Donald Trump denied reports of an offer to resume negotiations, stating the proposal was limited to discussing the allowance of medical supplies into Iran. These military directives come amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to prevent a renewed war between Iran, the United States, and Israel, coinciding with escalating warnings of potential renewed attacks. While Araghchi described efforts to open dialogue channels as a positive step, he stressed the absence of immediate plans for direct talks with Washington, presenting a scenario of diplomatic engagement alongside heightened Iranian military readiness. An editorial note highlighted that the name mentioned in directives was Mojtaba Khamenei, not Ali Khamenei, according to reports from an October 31 meeting, and suggested using "material and immaterial assets" instead of just "objectives" for accuracy.