Iranian source to CNN: There’s been outreach from US to Iran, but not full negotiations

An unnamed Iranian source concedes that there has been “outreach” between the White House and Tehran, CNN reports. The source adds that Iran is open to discussing “sustainable” frameworks to end the conflict.

Top Iranian officials have publicly denied US President Donald Trump’s claims that the US and Iran have been talking about an end to the war in recent days.

“There has been outreach between the United States and Iran initiated by Washington in recent days,” the Iranian source tells CNN, “but nothing that has reached the level of full-on negotiations.”

“Iran is not asking for a meeting or direct talks with the United States but is willing to listen if a plan for a sustainable deal comes within reach that would preserve the national interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” says the source, adding that any deal must end all sanctions on Iran.

“Iran is ready to provide all the necessary guarantees that it will never develop nuclear weapons,” says the source, “but is entitled to peaceful use of nuclear technology.”

The source adds that messages have been sent through mediators “to scope out whether an agreement to end the war can be reached.”

“The proposals being looked at are aimed not merely at achieving a ceasefire, but a concrete agreement to end the conflict between the US and Iran,” says the source.