Iran: US is "Negotiating With Itself"
The comments come a day after US President Donald Trump said Iran was interested in reaching a deal to resolve hostilities in the Middle East. Washington had drafted a 15-point proposal and sent it to Tehran outlining terms for ending the conflict.
An Iranian military spokesperson mocked ongoing US diplomatic efforts to end the war, claiming Washington is effectively “negotiating with itself,” according to remarks carried by state media on Wednesday.
The comments come a day after US President Donald Trump said Iran was interested in reaching a deal to resolve hostilities in the Middle East. A source familiar with the matter told Reuters that Washington had drafted a 15-point proposal and sent it to Tehran outlining terms for ending the conflict.
Iranian officials, however, publicly rejected the premise.
“Has the level of your inner struggle reached the stage of you negotiating with yourself?” said Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the unified command of the country’s armed forces.
“People like us can never get along with people like you,” he added.
The statement underscores the widening gap between public rhetoric and behind-the-scenes diplomacy, with Iran signaling little interest in acknowledging US overtures, at least openly.
Zolfaqari also warned that key US strategic and economic goals in the region would remain out of reach unless Washington accepts Iran’s role as a dominant security force.
“US investments and pre-war energy prices will not return as long as regional stability is not guaranteed by Iranian armed forces,” he said.
The remarks suggest Tehran is positioning itself not as a party seeking concessions, but as a power demanding recognition of its influence across the Middle East.
The exchange highlights the uncertain state of negotiations, which appear to be proceeding in parallel with continued military activity.
While Trump has described recent contacts as “very good and productive,” officials on both sides have yet to confirm any concrete progress, and fighting has continued across multiple fronts.
The reported 15-point plan has not been publicly detailed, and it remains unclear whether Iran has formally responded.
For now, the tone from Tehran suggests skepticism at best and outright dismissal at worst.