First direct US-Iran contact since conflict began, say media reports

WASHINGTON: Fresh reports suggest a possible backchannel exchange between the United States and Iran, though conflicting accounts have cast doubt over the nature and extent of the संपर्क. According to Axios, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi have recently resumed direct communication, citing both a US official and a source familiar with the matter.

The report indicates that the two officials, who had previously been involved in diplomatic engagements between Washington and Tehran, reconnected after hostilities escalated following joint Israeli and US military actions against Iran. While the exact substance of the communication remains unclear, the reported outreach is being seen as the first known direct contact between the two sides since the outbreak of the conflict. Sources told Axios that Araghchi’s messages were primarily focused on efforts to bring the war to an end.

However, a separate report by Drop Site News presented a conflicting narrative. It claimed that Witkoff had initiated contact by sending messages to Araghchi, citing Iranian officials who alleged that the foreign minister had not responded to the outreach from the US envoy. This contradiction has added to the uncertainty surrounding the alleged exchanges.

Further complicating the picture, a US official quoted by Axios maintained that it was Iran attempting to initiate dialogue, while asserting that Washington is currently not engaged in talks with Tehran. Neither side has disclosed details regarding the number, timing, or content of the reported messages.

In a public response, Araghchi firmly denied that any recent communication had taken place. Writing on social media platform X, he stated that his last interaction with Witkoff occurred before what he described as a US decision to “kill diplomacy” through an “illegal military attack” on Iran. He dismissed reports of ongoing contact as misleading, suggesting they were intended to influence oil markets and public perception rather than reflect reality.