Trump, Erdogan made covert attempts to hold talks with Iran: Axios
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Trump and Erdogan planned secret US-Iran talks in Istanbul, Axios reports, but Iran canceled after the talks could not be approved
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US President Donald Trump arrives to board Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Friday, June 20, 2025, en route to Montclair, New Jersey (AP)
In a report published by Axios, it was claimed that US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a covert attempt this week to organize a high-level meeting between senior US and Iranian officials in Istanbul, aiming to explore a diplomatic resolution to the escalating war the Israeli occupation is waging on Iran.
According to multiple US officials and a source with direct knowledge cited by Axios, Erdogan proposed the idea during a phone call with Trump on Monday, while Trump was attending a G7 summit in Canada. The Turkish president suggested hosting talks in Istanbul the very next day between the two sides.
Trump welcomed the proposal and reportedly told Erdogan he was willing to send Vice President JD Vance and his special envoy Steve Witkoff to the meeting. He even expressed readiness to travel to Turkiye himself to meet with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, should that be necessary to advance negotiations.
Erdogan and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan subsequently relayed the US offer to President Pezeshkian and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Meeting remained unapproved
However, the Iranian delegation was unable to secure approval from the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei. Citing “security concerns,” sources told Axios that Khamenei could not be reached. As a result, Tehran was unable to proceed, and Turkiye informed the US that the meeting was canceled.
Following the breakdown, Trump posted a series of statements on his social media platform Truth Social, addressing the war on Iran.
“Iran should have signed the 'deal' I told them to sign. What a shame, and waste of human life. Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!” Trump wrote.
While some interpreted the posts as a reaction to the failed talks, a senior White House official clarified that the collapse of the negotiations was not the sole reason for Trump’s online comments, adding that there was “no direct correlation.”
No US talks while Iran is under attack
Iran's missile program and military capabilities are "non-negotiable", Araghchi stated on Friday. Speaking ahead of a diplomatic meeting in Geneva, Araghchi stated that Iran has not engaged in any direct communication with the United States, despite reported efforts through intermediaries.
“We have never had any contact with the Americans. The United States requested negotiations through mediators, but we refused,” Araghchi said.
He emphasized that Iran is unwilling to hold talks while Israeli attacks on Iranian territory persist. “We are not prepared to hold talks with anyone under these conditions,” he said, referencing continued escalations.
Araghchi added that Iran’s resistance to these attacks is expected to influence international positions. “After our resistance to Israel, I believe that countries will distance themselves from this aggression,” he said, adding that efforts to de-escalate the conflict have already begun and are expected to increase.
