WASHINGTON: US officials have confirmed that technical-level talks with Iran are currently underway, even as the two nations exchange military strikes across the region, according to foreign media reports.
Officials in Washington stated that the United States remains committed to resolving outstanding issues with Tehran through diplomatic channels, despite the sharp escalation in hostilities over the past 48 hours. The US has been conducting attacks against Iranian targets for the past two days, while Iran has retaliated by striking US military bases in the region, raising fears of a wider confrontation.
The development comes as a stark contradiction to public statements made earlier by President Donald Trump. Following a meeting with the NATO chief in the Turkish capital Ankara, Trump had bluntly ruled out any direct engagement with the Iranian leadership. “I do not want to deal with the Iranians,” the president told reporters, adding that the ceasefire with Iran had effectively ended.
Trump further justified his hardline stance by expressing deep concern over Iran’s nuclear ambitions. “If the Iranians had nuclear weapons, they would use them,” he said. “I do not want to waste my time with Iran.”
Despite the president’s dismissal of direct dialogue, US officials clarified that the ongoing talks are strictly technical in nature and do not represent a shift in Washington’s broader policy toward Tehran. The discussions are believed to focus on specific operational or procedural issues rather than comprehensive negotiations on the nuclear file or regional security.
The dueling messages from the White House and US officials have left observers puzzled, with some interpreting the technical-level engagement as a potential backchannel to de-escalate the rapidly deteriorating security situation. However, with both sides continuing military operations, it remains unclear whether these talks will yield any tangible progress toward reducing tensions.
