Tehran, Iran – Reuters, citing a senior Iranian official, reported that direct communication channels recently opened between Tehran and Washington have been suspended. This comes after a sharp escalation in the White House’s rhetoric regarding the crackdown on protests in Iran.
Breakdown of secret talks
The Iranian official explained that communications between Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and US Special Envoy Steve Whitaker have been completely suspended. This reversal comes after Tehran had expressed a willingness to explore opportunities for dialogue with the administration of President Donald Trump. This occurred before the latest wave of unrest erupted.
Trump: “No meetings until the killing stops.”
The suspension came after a decisive stance taken by the US president on Tuesday, January 13, in which Trump encouraged what he called “Iranian patriots” to continue their protests against the government. He stated unequivocally: “I have canceled all meetings with Iranian officials until the senseless killing of protesters stops.” While Trump asserted that Iran had requested dialogue, he warned that the United States might find “it better to take action” than to negotiate. This was interpreted as a veiled threat of direct intervention.
