Iran Says will Not Join Pakistan-Initiated “Peace Talks” with US
Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Mr 30: Even as the United States President Donald Trump issued a fresh warning to Iran of destroying its electricity plants, oil wells and Kharg Island unless there is a peace deal, Iran has firmly denied Pakistan’s claim that it was ready to host direct talks between Tehran and Washington to end the ongoing conflict.
In a clear response, Iranian officials said no such negotiations were taking place and dismissed the idea of any involvement in Pakistan-led efforts. The Consulate General of Iran in Mumbai stated that there have been no direct talks with the United States. Instead, it said that only “excessive and unreasonable demands” have been communicated through intermediaries. The statement also made it clear that any diplomatic forums organised by Pakistan were its own initiative and that Iran has not taken part in them.
“No direct US talks; only excessive, unreasonable demands via intermediaries. US “diplomacy” flips constantly; our stance is clear. Pakistan’s forums are their own; we didn’t participate. Regional calls to end war are welcome, but remember who started it!” the Consuulate General said in a statement.
The Pakistani announcement came on Sunday after the country’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who also serves as deputy prime minister, hosted his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey for several hours of talks in Islamabad. The ministers reportedly discussed the impact of the fighting, including the disruption of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. In a televised statement, Dar said the visiting ministers had expressed their full support for potential US-Iran talks to be held in Islamabad.
Dar claimed he and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had held several telephone calls with senior Iranian government ministers, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Pakistan had also been actively engaged with the US administration, he added. The Sunday talks in Islamabad were held under tight security and without any representation from the United States, Israel or Iran. This has raised questions about the feasibility of such negotiations being hosted in the country.
Tehran has refused to admit holding any official talks with Washington but has passed a response to a 15-point plan put forward by US President Donald Trump via Islamabad, according to Iran’s Tasnim news agency. The United States and Israel maintained their attacks on Iran on Monday. Iran struck a key water and electrical plant in Kuwait as part of its campaign against Gulf Arab states and also hit an oil refinery in northern Israel.
US President Trump said Iran had agreed to allow 20 oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz starting on Monday as a sign of respect. At the same time, with 2,500 US Marines already in the region and another similar-sized contingent on its way, Trump raised the possibility of seizing Iran’s Kharg Island oil terminal in the Persian Gulf.
While denying direct talks, Iranian sources indicated that communication with the US is still happening indirectly. Reports suggest that Tehran has responded to proposals from Washington through intermediaries, but no formal dialogue has been agreed upon. Iran welcomed calls from regional countries to end the conflict but also stressed that responsibility for the situation must be acknowledged.
In response to Mr Trump’s fresh threats, Iran’s military said on Monday (March 30, 2026) that Israel was behind an attack on a desalination plant in Kuwait. A spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry said Iran was not seeking nuclear weapons but the issue of whether to remain part of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) was under review in Parliament. Iran also confirmed on Monday that Revolutionary Guards commander Alireza Tangsiri had been killed, days after Israel said it targeted him in an air strike.
