US envoy, Iran's foreign minister exchange texts on ending war: Report

HAMILTON, Canada

US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi exchanged text messages focused on ending the war, marking the first known direct communication since fighting broke out more than two weeks ago, the US-based Axios news website reported Monday.

Araghchi initiated the contact by sending texts to Witkoff, according to a US official cited by Axios, contradicting an earlier Drop Site News report claiming Iran was ignoring outreach from the White House envoy.

Despite the direct exchange, a US official told Axios that Washington is "not talking" to Iran, and questions remain over Tehran's willingness and authority to negotiate.

On Monday, President Donald Trump also confirmed that Iranian officials had been in contact with Washington, saying: "They want to make a deal. They're talking to our people."

Casting doubt on Iran's mandate to strike a deal, Trump said that "we have people wanting to negotiate. We have no idea who they are."

Anadolu reached out to the White House for comment on the Axios report, but no response was received at the time of publication.