Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday refuted U.S. claims that it is negotiating with Iran, saying that the United States' talking about negotiation amounts to an admission of defeat, while speaking in an interview with Iranian state TV.
"Now they talk about negotiations and these things, this is exactly an admission of defeat. Didn't they say unconditional surrender? So why are they now talking about negotiations? I can say that there are no such negotiations, but the fact the enemy, who was seeking our unconditional surrender, is now talking about negotiations and requesting negotiations, mobilizing their highest officials to come and negotiate with Iran. This means accepting defeat," said Araghchi.
The foreign minister said the current conflict is neither Iran's war nor the war of the United States, but one driven by Israel, which he described as the main instigator pushing the United States into this conflict.
The United States had passed a 15-point plan to Iran via Pakistan aimed at ending the conflict, U.S. media reported on Tuesday.
Iran rejected the U.S. ceasefire plan and put forward five conditions of its own for a ceasefire, Iran's Press TV reported on Wednesday, citing a senior Iranian official.
Even though Iran has not accepted the U.S. plan, contacts with Iran will continue, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday.
U.S. talk of negotiations is admission of defeat: Iran's FM
