Iranian Foreign Minister had last meeting with Witkoff before the war began

(Patria) - Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated yesterday that his last contact with US envoy Steve Witkoff was before the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran, contradicting an earlier media report that the direct communication channel between the two had been reactivated in recent days, Reuters reported.

"My last contact with Mr. Witkoff was before his employer's decision to kill diplomacy with yet another illegal military attack on Iran," the Iranian foreign minister wrote on social media platform X.

"Any claim to the contrary appears aimed solely at deceiving oil traders and the public."

Axios reported that the direct communication channel between Witkoff and Araqchi had been reactivated in recent days. The report cited a US official and a source familiar with the matter, who said that Araqchi had been sending text messages to Witkoff.

News portal Drop Site News earlier reported that Witkoff had been sending messages to Araqchi. It cited Iranian officials who said that Araqchi ignores Witkoff's messages.

The US and Israel began the war against Iran on February 28, and Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed. Iran responded with attacks on Israel and on US bases in the Persian Gulf. The war has driven up oil prices and shaken markets worldwide.