Tehran has strongly denied claims by U.S. President Donald Trump that it interfered in recent ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, dismissing the accusations as “baseless” and politically motivated.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to Scotland on Monday, Trump alleged that Iran had “interjected themselves in this last negotiation,” implying Tehran had issued “signals and orders” to the Palestinian group Hamas during the latest round of indirect talks. “That’s not good,” he added, without providing further details.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry swiftly rebuffed the remarks, calling them “absolutely unfounded.” Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Trump’s statement was merely “a form of projection and evasion of responsibility,” accusing the former U.S. president of deflecting blame for Washington’s own role in the stalled talks.
“Hamas negotiators do not require the intervention of third parties,” Baqaei said. “The group recognizes and pursues the interests of the oppressed people of Gaza independently and effectively.”
The latest indirect negotiations, mediated by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, were held in Doha earlier this month but ended without progress. Both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of refusing to compromise on key terms necessary to end the nearly 22-month-long conflict in Gaza.
Trump’s comments also come in the wake of a recent escalation that saw Israel launch a surprise offensive against Iran, striking key nuclear and military installations — some of which were located in civilian areas.
The U.S. briefly joined the conflict, targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, prompting Tehran to retaliate with missile and drone attacks.
While Trump did not elaborate on what he meant by Iran sending “very bad signals,” it was widely interpreted as a reference to Tehran’s support for armed groups in the region and the breakdown of nuclear talks with Washington amid the wider conflict.
In response to Trump’s allegations, Baqaei urged the United States to “cease supplying deadly weapons to the occupying regime,” referring to Israel, and demanded it “put an end to the genocide and allow humanitarian aid to reach the Gaza Strip.”
The diplomatic exchange underscores the tense geopolitical fault lines that continue to shape the Middle East, as ceasefire efforts remain elusive and regional powers trade accusations over who is obstructing peace.
