Iran rejects US and Israel diplomatic overtures, cites bad-faith negotiation

Iran's ambassador to Belarus, Alireza Sanei, has sharply criticized the United States and Israel, accusing both countries of having "betrayed diplomacy" and stating that Tehran "does not trust them," according to a report by the Russian state news agency TASS.

Sanei, who represents the Islamic Republic in Minsk, charged that the other side of ongoing negotiations "wants everything in their favor" — framing the talks as fundamentally imbalanced and driven by self-interest rather than mutual compromise.

The diplomat's remarks reflect the deep mistrust that has come to characterize Iran's posture toward Western-led diplomatic engagement, particularly amid broader international efforts to address Tehran's nuclear program and regional security concerns. Iranian officials have repeatedly signaled frustration with what they describe as bad-faith participation by Washington and its allies.

Sanei's statement underscores the significant obstacles that remain before any substantive diplomatic breakthrough can be achieved, with Tehran showing little willingness to return to the negotiating table on terms it views as inherently one-sided.