Iran's Ambassador in Russia: Trump's Willingness to Talk Is Media Deception
Iranian envoy says visa denials for its media team and inconsistent U.S. rhetoric show there are no Iran–U.S. talks at present; rail project progress noted
IRNA quotes Iran's ambassador to Russia dismissing Trump's claims of willingness to talk as propaganda, citing visa refusals for Iranian media as evidence of hostility. He said there are no negotiations with the U.S. at present and provided updates on the Rasht–Astara rail project, including gauge compatibility and potential extensions.
IRNA reported from Moscow that Iran's Ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, stated that the United States’ failure to issue visas to several members of the president’s accompanying media delegation indicates that President Trump’s claims of a willingness to engage in dialogue are a misinformation campaign and media deception. He argued that a country that dreads reporters and hides truth cannot be trusted to pursue talks, calling the visa-denial move unprecedented, hostile, and a clear violation of international obligations by the United States as the host of the United Nations. Jalali added that the Iranian delegation in New York will act in accordance with national interests, and addressed questions about a potential three-way meeting with France and the United States, saying there are currently no negotiations. He suggested that Trump’s media theater aims to influence energy prices ahead of elections, and dismissed recent U.S. sanctions on Iranian airlines as not new. On the Rasht–Astara rail project, Jalali said land acquisition is complete and the next phase will proceed with a Russian contractor, with the contract expected to be signed soon; the 162-kilometer line would be built to accommodate both Iranian and Russian gauges, with potential plans to extend from Rasht to Bandar Abbas, and discussions of a broader north–south rail corridor continue in talks between the two countries.