Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) on Monday rejected U.S. President Donald Trump's claim that there is a backchannel for talks between the United States and the IRGC.
In an interview with the semi-official Tasnim news agency, IRGC spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi called Trump's claim a "delusion," saying no dialogue is taking place between IRGC officials and the Americans.
Even Iran's diplomatic apparatus is not currently negotiating with the United States owing to American's "breach of promises," Mohebbi added.
Separately, at Monday's press conference, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei denied media reports of unofficial contact between the U.S. and the IRGC via Iraqi Kurdistan officials and an alleged secret U.S.-Iran meeting in Erbil.
The reports are "media techniques and psychological operations used to sow discord among Iran's decision-making bodies," Baghaei said.
Trump told Fox News earlier Monday that his administration maintains a direct backchannel with Iran's IRGC officials, saying that he is "not in a hurry" to resolve the Iran issue and has set no new deadline for Tehran.
Separately, Trump posted on social media the same day that the U.S.'s top priority is -- and will always be -- ensuring that Iran does not possess nuclear weapons "in any way, shape or form."
Iran's IRGC rejects Trump's claim of backchannel talks
Iran's IRGC rejects Trump's claim of backchannel talks
Senior officials from Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye met in Tehran on Monday and agreed to continue talks to strengthen cooperation on promoting peace and security in the region.
The meeting, the first of its kind among the four countries, was hosted by Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Mohsen Rezaei, and attended by Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and Türkiye's National Intelligence Organization Director Ibrahim Kalin, a statement issued after the meeting said.
"The participants agreed to continue discussions aimed at strengthening cooperation among the four regional countries, including in the realm of peace and security in the region," the statement said.
Speaking at a separate meeting with the senior officials from the Mecca Defense Alliance countries on Monday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran supports any understanding that leads to unity, solidarity, security and development in the region, according to a statement released on the website of his office.
Pezeshkian accused Israel of committing "acts of violence and widespread crimes" in West Asia with "U.S. support," urging Muslim states to guard against "interventionist and divisive" moves and play an active role in regional stability.
He reiterated that Iran does not seek to develop nuclear weapons and wants to continue its nuclear activities within the framework of its international rights and obligations.
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye on Aug. 7 signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, under which an attack on one member is seen as an attack on all.
Mecca pact countries, Iran agree to continue talks on regional peace after Tehran meeting
