Iran president calls talks with US “meaningless” as discussions deadlock
In short
Iranian President Pezeshkian said on Oct 5 that negotiations with the United States are “meaningless,” telling a visiting Armenian foreign minister that Washington is not seeking dialogue. Japanese outlets reported his remarks via Iranian state media, noting that indirect US-Iran talks remain deadlocked over the Strait of Hormuz and the nuclear issue. US President Trump has indicated he could attack again after the November midterm elections and has sent additional aircraft carriers to the Middle East.
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Iranian President Pezeshkian said on Oct 5 that negotiations with the United States, which continues economic sanctions and military pressure on Iran, are “meaningless,” according to Japanese reports citing Iranian state media. He made the remark at a meeting with Armenia's foreign minister, who was visiting Iran. [ 1 , 3 ]
Pezeshkian criticised Washington, saying “every time we negotiate they start a war,” and that the United States is “not seeking dialogue but aiming to overthrow the state.” He also called the nuclear weapons manufacturing suspicion that the US views as a problem “false.” [ 3 ]
The United States and Iran continue indirect talks, but the documents say gaps remain deep over the opening of the Strait of Hormuz — an energy transport chokepoint that Iran effectively keeps blocked — and over the Iranian nuclear issue. US President Trump has indicated he could launch attacks again after the November US midterm elections and has sent additional aircraft carriers to the Middle East to increase pressure. [ 1 , 3 ]
The Japanese reports, published on the morning of Oct 6 and attributed to Kyodo, carried the same account. Tokyo Shimbun's page showed only the headline, “Iran president dissatisfied with talks with US, discussion deadlocked, ‘meaningless’,” and membership prompts, with no further article detail available. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The remarks signal that indirect US-Iran talks, already deadlocked over the Strait of Hormuz and the nuclear file, are not producing movement. Trump's suggestion of renewed attacks after the November midterms and additional carrier deployments point to continued military pressure rather than de-escalation. Because the reports involve an energy transport chokepoint, the standoff carries weight beyond the two countries directly involved.
Key facts
- Iranian President Pezeshkian said on Oct 5 that negotiations with the United States are “meaningless” and showed dissatisfaction as discussions remain deadlocked. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- He made the remark at a meeting with Armenia's foreign minister, who was visiting Iran, according to Iranian state media. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Pezeshkian said the US “starts a war every time we negotiate” and is not seeking dialogue but aims to overthrow the state. [ 3 ]
- He called the nuclear weapons manufacturing suspicion that the US views as a problem “false.” [ 3 ]
- US and Iranian indirect talks continue, with deep gaps over opening the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran effectively keeps blocked, and over the nuclear issue. [ 1 , 3 ]
- US President Trump indicated he could launch attacks again after the November US midterm elections and has sent additional aircraft carriers to the Middle East. [ 1 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Pezeshkian said negotiations with the United States are “meaningless.” [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The remarks were made at a meeting with Armenia's foreign minister in Iran and reported by Iranian state media. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Indirect US-Iran talks continue but gaps remain deep over the Strait of Hormuz and the nuclear issue. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Trump indicated he may attack again after the November midterm elections and has deployed additional aircraft carriers to the Middle East. [ 1 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- What specific timetable or agenda, if any, the current US-Iran indirect talks have. The documents say discussions are deadlocked and gaps remain deep but give no details of the talks themselves.
- Whether the United States will actually resume attacks after the November midterm elections. The documents describe this only as a possibility Trump indicated, not a decision.