What’s Iran Really Saying About Trump’s New Offer?

Despite Donald Trump’s dramatic announcement that the war between Iran and Israel is “over” and talks are on the horizon, Iran doesn’t seem to be on the same page.

In a televised interview on Thursday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi dismissed reports of any scheduled meeting with U.S. officials next week. 

According to Araqchi, Tehran isn’t rushing into any negotiations especially not after what he described as significant damage to the country’s nuclear infrastructure.

“Talks? Not Yet,” Says Iran

President Trump had claimed that the U.S. was preparing for talks with Iran following the ceasefire agreement that ended the 12-day Iran-Israel conflict. But Iran says it’s still weighing its options. 

Araqchi made it clear: there are currently no plans for a meeting. Instead, Iranian officials are focused on evaluating the aftermath of recent U.S.-led airstrikes on their nuclear sites.

“The damage wasn’t minor,” Araqchi stressed, adding that Tehran’s stance will depend on the full assessment of what those strikes have cost the country’s civilian nuclear program.

Ceasefire or Confusion?

Trump’s announcement of a ceasefire was intended to project control and diplomatic progress. 

However, Iranian officials have taken a more skeptical view, particularly after claiming that the five previous rounds of talks were sabotaged either directly or indirectly by actions from the U.S. or its allies.

The narrative in Tehran is simple: you can’t bomb our facilities and then ask for a seat at the table the next day.

The Nuclear Question

At the heart of the tension is Iran’s nuclear programme. While the U.S. and Israel argue that their strikes are aimed at stopping Iran from developing nuclear weapons, Tehran insists its programme is strictly for civilian purposes.

Araqchi noted that the country’s nuclear team is trying to understand the new limitations they’re working with post-airstrike. “We are figuring out the new realities,” he said—a phrase that suggests Iran is in no rush to return to talks, at least not under the current conditions.

The Mixed Signals from Washington

There’s also growing uncertainty over how much of Trump’s public messaging matches the facts on the ground. 

Satellite images released after the bombings indicate that Iran’s nuclear sites may not have been completely destroyed, as the U.S. president initially claimed. Intelligence reports suggest that the strikes merely delayed Iran’s operations by a few months.

That hasn’t stopped Trump from issuing warnings. He recently accused both Israel and Iran of breaking the ceasefire terms and insisted once again that “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.” He also told Iranians to leave Tehran, stating that the war was a “waste of human life.”

So, What’s Really Going On?

If anything, Iran’s public response is a calculated pause. Rather than flatly rejecting negotiations, they’re sending a signal that talks are not off the table but only once the fallout, both political and physical, has been properly measured.

For now, Tehran’s message is clear, there will be no quick handshake with Washington. First, they want answers. Then, maybe, they’ll talk.