Iran has rejected the possibility of any negotiations with the United States following President Donald Trump’s two-week ultimatum, citing ongoing Israeli military operations as a nonstarter for diplomacy.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi dismissed renewed U.S. outreach on Friday, stating that no talks would occur until what he called “Israeli aggression” ends. “As long as American-backed airstrikes continue, there will be no diplomacy, no meetings, no compromise,” Araqchi said. “The U.S. cannot bomb and negotiate at the same time.”
President Trump had signaled earlier in the week that he would make a final decision on a potential strike against Iran before July 4, warning that Tehran is “only weeks away” from acquiring a nuclear weapon. While the White House has continued private correspondence with Iranian intermediaries, senior administration officials say hopes for a breakthrough are fading.
European foreign ministers from France, Germany, and the UK met with Iranian officials in Geneva this week in a last-ditch effort to revive nuclear dialogue and de-escalate the broader regional conflict. Tehran reiterated its position: no direct talks with Washington while Israel continues military operations, particularly following an Israeli strike on a major hospital in Iran-aligned territory.
Former U.S. Army General Jack Keane, speaking on Friday, said Iran appears willing to absorb strikes rather than capitulate. “Ayatollah Khamenei believes he can wait out the pressure, survive the airstrikes, and emerge stronger. But he may be miscalculating this time.”
The Biden-era Iran nuclear deal remains officially abandoned, and Trump has repeatedly vowed not to return to it. In his words, “If Iran wants peace, they know where to find us. But they’re running out of time.”
With the July 4 deadline looming, both sides are digging in—and the window for diplomacy is rapidly closing.
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