U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that Iran can initiate contact if it wishes to pursue negotiations aimed at ending the ongoing two-month conflict, even as Tehran intensifies its diplomatic outreach by dispatching its foreign minister to Russia for high-level discussions with President Vladimir Putin.
Speaking during a briefing, Trump expressed conditional openness to dialogue while maintaining Washington’s firm position.
“If they want to talk, they can come to us, or they can call us. You know, there is a telephone. We have nice, secure lines,” he said.
He further stressed the core U.S. demand, adding: “They know what has to be in the agreement. It’s very simple: They cannot have a nuclear weapon; otherwise, there’s no reason to meet.”
Signs of diplomatic momentum weakened over the weekend after Trump called off a planned visit to Islamabad by U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
He cited dissatisfaction with Tehran’s proposals. “Iran offered a lot, but not enough,” he said while addressing reporters in Florida.
In parallel, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has been engaged in a series of regional consultations, travelling through Pakistan and Oman, both acting as mediators before arriving in Russia on Monday.
He is expected to seek Moscow’s backing for Tehran’s position in the conflict.
Iran’s ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, described the visit as part of broader diplomatic coordination.
“Araqchi will meet Putin in continuation of the diplomatic jihad to advance the country’s interests and amid external threats,” he wrote on X.
He added: “Iran and Russia are present in a united front in the campaign of the world’s totalitarian forces against independent and justice-seeking countries, as well as countries that seek a world free from unilateralism and Western domination.”
Although a ceasefire has halted large-scale fighting, a comprehensive peace deal remains elusive.
The war, which erupted on February 28 following U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, has caused heavy casualties, disrupted global energy supply chains, and heightened fears of wider economic instability.
Market reactions were swift on Monday, with oil prices climbing and U.S. stock futures declining in early Asian trading as talks stalled.
The situation was further complicated by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route that handles roughly one-fifth of global oil flows, now effectively restricted amid tensions.
Reports from Axios suggest Iran has forwarded a fresh proposal via Pakistani intermediaries.
The plan reportedly focuses on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and pausing nuclear negotiations.
Neither the White House nor the U.S. State Department has responded publicly to the claim.
Iran continued to insist on its right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes, a stance firmly rejected by Washington and its allies, who suspect potential military dimensions.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated Tehran’s position during a call with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, stating Iran would not engage in what he described as “imposed negotiations” under pressure or blockade.
He added that the United States must first remove existing barriers, including maritime restrictions.
Beyond the nuclear dispute, significant disagreements persist.
Washington is pushing for limits on Iran’s support for regional allies such as Hezbollah and Hamas, alongside curbs on its ballistic missile programme.
Tehran, meanwhile, is demanding sanctions relief and an end to Israeli military operations in the region.
Violence continues to spread beyond Iran.
In Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes killed 14 people and injured 37 others on Sunday, according to health officials, underscoring the regional volatility despite ongoing ceasefire efforts.
With diplomatic channels active but positions still deeply divided, prospects for a lasting settlement remain uncertain even as international engagement intensifies.
