Iran's armed forces spokesperson, Ebrahim Zolfaqari of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, dismissed claims by US President Donald Trump that talks are underway to end the conflict, asserting that the United States is failing in its war and negotiating with itself to save face. In comments carried by Iran's semi-official Fars news agency, Zolfaqari mocked US leadership, asking: "Has the level of your inner struggle reached the stage of you negotiating with yourself?" and adding, "Don't call your failure an agreement."

This statement marks the latest official Iranian denial that Tehran is engaged in diplomacy with Washington, even as Trump insists talks are ongoing and reports circulate of the US sending a peace proposal. Speaking to reporters at the White House, the US president allegedly stated that Washington is speaking to the "right people" in Iran, which he claimed wants to make a deal "so badly." However, Iranian officials have consistently refuted these assertions, highlighting a stark disconnect in narratives between the two nations.

Questions over potential diplomacy were amplified by US media reports that Washington had sent Tehran a 15-point plan to end the war. The Wall Street Journal, quoting unnamed officials, reported that the plan purportedly calls on Iran to dismantle its three main nuclear sites, end any enrichment on its soil, suspend its ballistic missile programme, curb support for its regional allies, and fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz. In return, Iran would have nuclear-related sanctions lifted, and the US would assist the country's civilian nuclear programme, according to the Journal. Yet, Iranian authorities have denied receiving or engaging with such a proposal.

Al Jazeera's correspondent Mohamed Vall, reporting from Tehran, noted there is "total confusion" in Iran over the status of potential negotiations. Vall said: "Contrary to the clarity with which Donald Trump seems to speak, there is obscurity in Iran. What we hear instead are the officials and politicians here saying the complete opposite. They say there is no negotiation. This situation is making things very interesting and very strange," underscoring the opacity surrounding diplomatic efforts.

Amid these competing claims, military actions continue to escalate. Israel's military said it carried out strikes on infrastructure in Tehran, with Iran's Fars news agency reporting casualties in an "enemy attack." Iran, in turn, claimed to fire missiles at Israeli targets. Concurrently, the US regime is reportedly preparing to send at least 1,000 soldiers from the Army's elite 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East, adding to some 50,000 US troops already in the region, as per Reuters and AP. This dual approach of diplomacy and military buildup reflects the complex and volatile nature of the conflict.

Al Jazeera's John Hendren from Washington, DC, observed: "As the US is preparing for peace talks, it's also preparing for war. Diplomacy and military moves are going on at the same time," pointing to the inherent contradictions and risks in the US strategy. The involvement of regional actors like Pakistan, which allegedly delivered the US plan to Tehran, adds another layer of complexity to the already tense geopolitical landscape.

Source: www.aljazeera.com