Speaking in an interview with Al Jazeera, the top diplomat said messages had been exchanged with the United States, either directly or via regional intermediaries, but stressed that these contacts did not constitute negotiations.

„I receive messages from [US envoy Steve] Witkoff directly, as before, and this does not mean that we are in negotiations,“ he said, according to remarks published by the network on Tuesday.

„There is no truth to the claim of negotiations with any party in Iran,“ he added, categorically rejecting American officials‘ claims of being engaged in such process with Iranian authorities.