Iran suspends indirect talks with US amid regional escalation

02/06/2026

TEHRAN / WASHINGTON, D.C. — Iranian media has reported that negotiations between Iran and the United States have been suspended. US President Donald Trump stated that he had not been informed in advance of any such development.

Iran announced that the indirect negotiation process with the United States has been put on hold.

It was reported that Iran halted its mediated exchanges with Washington due to the continuation of Israeli attacks on Lebanon since 2 March. Tehran is said to have conditioned the resumption of talks on Israel stopping its military operations in Lebanon and Gaza and withdrawing from the territories it occupies.

Iran is also reported to have raised the possibility of fully closing the Strait of Hormuz and activating other regional fronts, including the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

In a brief statement to ABC News, US President Donald Trump commented on the latest developments with Iran, saying Washington had not been informed in advance of Iran’s decision to suspend talks amid escalating Israeli attacks on Lebanon.

“They haven’t informed us of that. However, it doesn’t mean we’re going to go and start dropping bombs all over there,” Trump said.

Describing the situation, Trump added that Iranians are “better negotiators than they are fighter.” He continued, “If they don’t want to talk, that’s OK with me. I think it’s fine. I don’t particularly want to talk, either. We talk too much.”

Trump also stated that the maritime blockade on Iran’s ports remains “firm” and will continue, adding that Iran is “losing a tremendous amount of money” as a result of the ongoing pressure.

According to Axios, tensions over Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon have also strained relations between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Citing US officials familiar with the matter, the report said Trump sharply criticized Netanyahu during a phone call on Monday, arguing that Israel’s actions in Lebanon were jeopardizing ongoing US-Iran negotiations.

Axios reported that Trump opposed Israeli plans to strike targets in Beirut, warning that such action would further isolate Israel internationally. US officials cited by the outlet said Trump believed Israel had escalated its response disproportionately, expressing concern over civilian casualties and the expansion of Israeli ground operations in southern Lebanon.

The report further stated that Trump’s frustration was driven in part by concerns that Israel’s actions could derail diplomatic efforts with Iran. Following the call, Trump wrote on Truth Social that negotiations with Iran were “continuing, at a rapid pace.”

An Israeli official told Axios that Israel no longer plans to carry out strikes in Beirut. However, Netanyahu said after the call that Israel would continue its operations in southern Lebanon and would attack targets in Beirut if Hezbollah attacks persisted, adding that Israel’s position remained unchanged.

The developments highlight growing regional tensions as Washington seeks to preserve diplomatic channels with Tehran while managing differences with Israel over the conduct of military operations in Lebanon.