Iran denies preliminary US deal, says diplomacy door stays open

Iran's Foreign Ministry is pouring cold water on talk of a breakthrough with Washington. Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Tuesday that no preliminary agreement has been reached in the indirect negotiations run through mediators, according to Iranian state broadcaster IRIB. He added that past experience gives Tehran no reason to feel optimistic about America's seriousness in diplomacy.

Still, the channels aren't shut. Baghaei confirmed that messages are continuing to move back and forth, and said Tehran will not miss any opportunity to use diplomacy to secure its interests. He paired that with a warning: Iran is ready to defend itself and will deliver a crushing response to any aggression.

The denial lands after a flurry of Arab media reports hinting the two sides were closing in. Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported Tuesday that Washington and Tehran had agreed to concessions floated by Qatar, with Iran making changes to its nuclear doctrine and the US releasing part of Iran's frozen assets as a preliminary step. According to Al Arabiya, an unnamed senior source said the US told Qatari mediators it accepted the latest peace proposal and was waiting on Iran's reply, with the offer allegedly reaching Tehran on Monday. No official confirmation has surfaced.

Iran's security chief isn't biting. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of the National Security Council, wrote on X that the US response regarding Iran's rights and demands was insufficient. He spelled out the price: Washington must fully and explicitly address Iran's seven conditions and act on them — only then, he wrote, will the Strait of Hormuz be reopened.

And the fighting hasn't paused. President Donald Trump acknowledged Monday that the US carried out new airstrikes on southern Iran. The Houthis' spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group targeted Saudi Arabia's Abha International Airport in Asir province, claiming the strike disrupted air traffic, and fired a ballistic missile at Khamis Mushait Air Base that he described as a direct hit.