Iran says US 'betrayed' diplomacy by 'encouraging' Israeli attacks

TEHRAN --Iran's Foreign Ministry on Monday accused the United States of "betraying" diplomacy, claiming Washington's alleged role in recent Israeli military strikes threatens the future of indirect nuclear negotiations.

At a weekly press conference in Tehran, ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the US had encouraged an Israeli attack that occurred just two days before a planned sixth round of talks between Iran and the US brokered by Oman.

Baghaei said that the US betrayed a diplomatic process, adding that "it really cannot be expected that this fact does not affect the continuation of the negotiations."

He also rejected US allegations that Iran was not serious about the talks, calling them "baseless" and a pretext to justify the strikes.

The nuclear negotiations, which have proceeded through five indirect rounds since April, were suspended after Israeli airstrikes targeted Tehran and other locations. On June 22, the US Air Force bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities. In retaliation, Iran launched a strike on the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which hosts US forces.

A ceasefire between Iran and Israel was reached on June 24, ending 12 days of hostilities.

Baghaei also criticized Germany and France for backing Israel, singling out remarks by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who described Israel's actions as "the dirty work Israel is doing for all of us." Baghaei said the statement would bring "historic and eternal shame upon Germany."