Iran denies nuclear talks under way, says focus is ending Mideast war

Iran's foreign ministry said Thursday no nuclear negotiations are currently taking place, directly countering suggestions from U.S. President Donald Trump that a deal on Tehran's uranium enrichment program could be in reach.

The denial signals a widening gap between Washington and Tehran as Trump has proposed that Iran give up its enriched uranium as part of a broader effort to end the Middle East conflict.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei made the announcement through state television. "At this stage, we are focused on ending the war, and there are no negotiations on the nuclear issue," Baqaei said. The Korea Times reported the statement Friday.

The remarks followed Trump's suggestion that Iran could surrender its stockpile of enriched uranium as part of a broader agreement to end the Middle East conflict. Iran's government offered no response to those proposed terms beyond Thursday's categorical denial.

Baqaei's statement draws a clear line between Tehran's stated priority — halting regional hostilities — and any potential engagement on its nuclear program. Iran gave no indication of a timeline or conditions under which nuclear talks might resume.

Washington and Tehran have long clashed over Iran's uranium enrichment activities. International monitors have previously documented enrichment levels approaching weapons-grade concentrations, drawing repeated warnings from Western governments.

Tehran's refusal to link nuclear talks to a Mideast peace framework leaves Trump's proposed grand bargain — one agreement covering both the ongoing war and Iran's enrichment program — without a confirmed Iranian counterpart.