Iran says dialogue ongoing with US despite clashes, Tehran will pursue diplomacy and war to advance interests

By Agencies 20 July 2026, 10:56 am

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Iran says that diplomatic exchanges with the United States via mediators were ongoing despite US military strikes on the country.

“We have been informed by mediators, we have received messages — without going into details — but the main point is that the diplomatic apparatus has been active in recent days and ideas have been conveyed to us by certain mediators,” Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei says at a press conference in Tehran attended by AFP.

“I reject the duality of either war or diplomacy. Diplomacy is a tool through which we pursue our national interests, just like war,” Baghaei says.