Iran has intelligence indicating that the United States is using diplomatic overtures as cover for military preparations, state TV reported citing an unnamed Iranian official who said Tehran should prepare for conflict instead of engaging in talks.
“Our intelligence indicates Washington seeks talks to prepare for war, not peace,” Press TV reported on Thursday citing the senior political official.
"If so, we see no reason to waste time and would rather focus on preparing for conflict."
The official was quoted as saying that Iran thinks "the purpose of the negotiations is to disarm Iran to make up for Israel’s weakness in the next war."
"Any new round of negotiations must include serious and practical guarantees to ensure the process is not a cover for security deception," Press TV added citing the unnamed official.
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said Iran's nuclear program had been dealt an irreparable blow by US attacks last month and that he was in no rush to resume negotiations with Tehran.
The Iranian official speaking to Press TV outlined conditions for any future negotiations with the United States, saying that discussions must address key issues such as Israel’s nuclear arsenal and compensation for the recent war.
“We must receive guarantees that Mr. Witkoff is a mediator for a solution, not a fire-starter for war. Providing such guarantees is very difficult, but we are ready to give (the US) one more chance and listen to what the US has to say on this matter and see its practical actions in this regard."
Steve Witkoff is the White House special envoy who engaged in five rounds of discussions with Iranian officials prior to the Israeli military campaign against Tehran, which was launched following the 60-day deadline set by Trump for a deal with the Islamic Republic.
Israeli air strikes and drone attacks during the 12-day war killed hundreds of Iranians including civilians, military personnel and nuclear scientists. Iran's retaliatory missile strikes also killed 27 Israeli civilians.
On June 22, the United States joined the war by striking Iran’s nuclear sites in Isfahan, Natanz, and Fordow using long-range bombers and submarine-launched missiles.
A US-brokered ceasefire was announced on June 24 between Iran and Israel after Tehran launched a retaliatory airstrike against a US airbase in Qatar.
