"Don't Call Defeat A Deal": Iran Slams US, Rejects Talks Narrative
Iran has sharply pushed back against US claims of ongoing negotiations, with a senior military spokesperson accusing Washington of “negotiating with itself” and warning against framing any outcome as an agreement. The statement underscores Tehran’s hardline stance, including demands for US troop withdrawal from the Gulf and control over the Strait of Hormuz, both seen as major deal breakers. Even as backchannel diplomacy remains uncertain, rising military deployments on both sides point to a volatile mix of escalation and rhetoric, with no clear path to de-escalation yet.
