“Are you negotiating with yourself?” Iran snubs Trump’s claims of US-Iran talks

Iran’s military dismissed President Donald Trump’s assertion that the United States is negotiating to end the ongoing Middle East conflict, questioning whether the US is, in fact, negotiating with itself.

“Has the level of your inner struggle reached the stage of you (Trump) negotiating with yourself?” Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for Iran’s joint military command, asked on Iranian state television. “People like us can never get along with people like you… no one like us will make a deal with you. Not now. Not ever.”

The comments came amid a flurry of airstrikes exchanged between Israel and Iran, four weeks into a war that has already killed thousands, disrupted energy markets, and triggered global inflation concerns. The Israeli Defense Forces said strikes targeted infrastructure across Tehran, while Iranian media reported damage to residential areas.

Kuwait and Saudi Arabia also reported thwarted drone attacks on key facilities, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed further attacks on Israeli cities and US military bases in the region.

Trump had told reporters that the US was in negotiations with “the right people” in Iran, suggesting Tehran was eager to reach a deal. Reports indicated Washington had sent a 15-point plan to Tehran, proposing a month-long ceasefire, steps to curb Iran’s nuclear program, and renewed access to the Strait of Hormuz.

Despite these overtures, Iran’s hardline military leadership, dominated by the Revolutionary Guards, has repeatedly rejected negotiations, citing past US attacks during high-level talks. Iranian Foreign Ministry has also made a statement, “We no longer trust American diplomacy.”

The ongoing conflict has caused severe energy disruptions, particularly affecting Asian nations that rely heavily on crude passing through the Strait of Hormuz. International agencies have announced record releases from strategic oil reserves, and countries are implementing emergency measures to cope with fuel shortages.

Pakistan has offered to host US-Iran talks, signaling continued diplomatic attempts even as the Pentagon reinforces its presence in the region with additional troops, further intensifying concerns of a prolonged conflict.