Iran has declared that dialogue with the United States over its nuclear programme is now “meaningless” after Israel’s military assault on Iranian territory,
The negotiations were planned to halt Iran’s nuclear programme, but Israel’s strike and Iran’s subsequent retaliation has escalated regional tensions, casting doubt over planned nuclear negotiations.
Iranian Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, quoted by state media on Saturday, said America’s role in the Israeli strike had undermined any credibility in pursuing diplomatic engagement.
“The other side (the U.S.) 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,” Baghaei said.
Israel had on Friday morning carried out coordinated strikes on Iranian nuclear and missile infrastructure in what it called a preemptive defensive operation.
In response, Iran launched a barrage of missiles toward Israel, with explosions reported in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
The Iranian government has since accused the U.S. of giving Israel a green light for the operation.
Baghaei said Israel had “succeeded in influencing” the diplomatic process and that such an attack would not have occurred without U.S. permission.
“The Israeli regime could not have acted without U.S. backing,” he said, reinforcing Iran’s longstanding claim of American complicity.
Despite these accusations, the United States has denied involvement and urged Iran to return to the negotiating table.
Speaking at the United Nations Security Council earlier in the week, a U.S. representative said Iran would be “wise” to continue talks over its nuclear programme. Whether those talks will proceed now remains uncertain.
The sixth round of U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations, scheduled to take place Sunday in Muscat, now hangs in the balance.
“It is still unclear what decision we will make on Sunday in this regard,” Baghaei said.
Iran maintains that its nuclear programme is purely for civilian use, repeatedly rejecting Israeli and Western allegations that it is pursuing nuclear weapons.
U.S. President Donald Trump told Reuters that his administration was aware in advance of the Israeli strike but said there is still a “window” for diplomatic resolution.
