'Talks with US meaningless', Iran rules out nuclear talks after Israeli strikes

Tehran: In a major blow to Middle East diplomacy, Iran has declared that nuclear negotiations with the United States are now “meaningless” following what it described as Israel’s largest-ever military assault on Iranian territory.

The Iranian foreign ministry accused Washington of complicity in the strikes. Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, speaking to the state-run Tasnim news agency, said, “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 strike Iranian territory.” He added that Israel had “succeeded in influencing” the diplomatic process and implied the attack was carried out with US consent.

Washington, however, denied direct involvement and urged Tehran at the United Nations Security Council to return to the negotiating table. A US spokesperson said it would be “wise” for Iran to resume talks regarding its nuclear programme.

In a twist, former US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that he had issued a 60-day ultimatum to Iran two months prior, suggesting the Israeli strikes were in line with his pressure strategy. “Two months ago I gave Iran a 60-day ultimatum to make a deal,” he wrote.

The sixth round of US-Iran nuclear talks, scheduled to take place in Muscat this Sunday, is now in jeopardy.

Meanwhile, Iran launched a second wave of missile and drone attacks on Israel overnight, responding to what Tehran calls Israeli aggression. The barrage followed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s televised address in which he said further military operations were underway.

Iran continues to insist that its uranium enrichment programme is intended solely for peaceful purposes, dismissing Israeli allegations that it is developing nuclear weapons in secret.