This combo shows Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, left, pictured in Tehran, Iran, and Steve Witkoff, right, White House special envoy, pictured in Washington. AP
Per Axios’s report, it isn’t clear how substantive the messages passed between Araghchi and Witkoff were, but it’s the first known direct communication between the parties since the war started more than two weeks ago.
There has been no immediate response from Iran to the report.
The US official and the source with knowledge told Axios that Araghchi sent text messages to Witkoff that focused on ending the war.
It comes after Drop Site News reported that Witkoff had sent messages to Araghchi and quoted Iranian officials who said the Iranian foreign minister was ignoring his messages.
The US official told Axios it was Araghchi who was attempting to engage, but said the US “is not talking” to Iran. Neither of the sources spoke in detail about how many texts had been exchanged or about their content.
Donald Trump said earlier that Iran had communicated with the US about reaching a deal.
“They want to make a deal. They are talking to our people ... we have people wanting to negotiate, [but] we have no idea who they are,” the US president claimed.
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