In the wake of Israel’s most extensive military strike against Iran, Tehran has declared that continuing nuclear dialogue with the United States is now “meaningless.” The Iranian Foreign Ministry made this assertion just days before a scheduled round of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, throwing uncertainty over the negotiations planned for Sunday in Muscat.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stated on Saturday that the U.S. cannot simultaneously call for negotiations while enabling Israeli aggression. “The other side acted in a way that makes dialogue meaningless. You cannot claim to negotiate and at the same time allow the Zionist regime to target Iran’s territory,” he was quoted by Iranian state media.
Baghaei also questioned whether Tehran would participate in the upcoming nuclear talks, saying, “It is still unclear what decision we will make on Sunday in this regard.”
He further alleged that the Israeli military operation was not an isolated action but one that could not have occurred without the knowledge and approval of Washington. “Israel succeeded in influencing the diplomatic process,” he said, suggesting that the U.S. had a hand in the escalation and bore responsibility for sabotaging the possibility of diplomacy.
Tensions flared last week when Iran launched missiles at Israel in retaliation for the airstrikes, deepening concerns over a broader regional conflict. Tehran has long accused the U.S. of enabling Israeli aggression, a charge Washington strongly denies. During a United Nations Security Council meeting, U.S. representatives rejected Iranian claims and urged Tehran to return to the negotiating table, calling it a “wise” course of action.
The sixth round of nuclear talks was scheduled for June 16 in Muscat, but Israel’s recent military actions have now cast serious doubt over its feasibility. Iranian officials have yet to confirm whether they will attend, citing the undermining of the diplomatic process.
Iran continues to insist that its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful and civilian in nature, rejecting repeated Israeli accusations that it is secretly developing nuclear weapons.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump commented to Reuters that although his administration was aware of Israel’s plans in advance, he believed there was still a chance for an agreement. However, with regional hostilities rising and diplomatic trust eroding, the prospect of reviving nuclear diplomacy appears increasingly remote.
