Iran has highlighted the importance of negotiation protocols, cautioning that meaningful talks with the United States require mutual adherence to diplomatic norms.

Responding to a question regarding remarks by Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani, who stated that both Iran and the US are not opposed to talks, and reports from the Washington Post suggesting a renewed US effort to engage Iran, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson praised Iraq’s concern for regional peace and stability.

“We commend the sincere efforts of all regional countries to help reduce tensions,” Esmaeil Baghaei said. At the same time, he noted that based on experiences over the past five to six months, initiating a negotiation process requires parties to observe proper negotiation conduct. Without this foundation, the prospect of meaningful talks remains unrealistic.

The spokesperson reiterated that Iran consistently upholds diplomacy, viewing it as a key tool to defend and advance national interests. “Whenever we assess that diplomacy is effective, we will not hesitate to employ it,” he added.

Baghaei also clarified remarks attributed to Abbas Araghchi, noting that Araghchi did not say the communication channel with the US had been cut. He explained that the official channel through the interests section remains in place, and that contacts previously established between Araghchi and the US special envoy are still intact.

He stressed that Araghchi’s remarks were limited to the assessment that there is currently no need for contact, emphasizing that the existence of a channel and the decision to use it are two separate matters.

Addressing exchanges between Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeed Iravani, and the US representative at the UN Security Council, as well as remarks by Morgan Ortagus during the Council’s session, Baghaei criticized the US position as contradictory.

He described the US representative’s statements as disingenuous, noting that claiming readiness for negotiations while simultaneously imposing preconditions unacceptable to the other side undermines the credibility of such offers.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani said Iraq is making efforts to arrange a bilateral meeting between Iran and the United States in Baghdad with the aim of resuming talks.

According to Baghdad Al-Youm, al-Sudani stated that Iraq has played a role in reducing tensions on several occasions, adding that despite specific considerations held by each side, neither party opposes the resumption of dialogue.

He said that relations with Iran, at official, political, and popular levels, are moving in a positive direction, noting that Baghdad seeks to use this relationship to help restart negotiations between Tehran and Washington.

On June 13, 2025, Israel launched a blatant and unprovoked aggression against Iran while Washington and Tehran were in a process of nuclear negotiations. The Israeli attack triggered a 12-day war that killed at least 1,064 people in the country, including military commanders, nuclear scientists, and ordinary civilians.

The United States also entered the war by bombing three Iranian nuclear sites in a grave violation of international law.

In response, the Iranian Armed Forces targeted strategic sites across the occupied territories as well as the Al-Udeid air base in Qatar, the largest American military base in West Asia.

On June 24, Iran, through its successful retaliatory operations against both the Israeli regime and the US, managed to impose a halt to the aggression.