Iran has 'not conveyed any message' on reported 'closure' of indirect talks with US: Pakistani government official

Iran has “not conveyed any message” regarding the reported “closure” of indirect talks with the US, a senior Pakistani government official told Anadolu Tuesday.

This came after US daily New York Times claimed Iran ceased to engage in talks to stop war with the US after US President Donald Trump’s threat to wipe out “whole civilization.”

The Wall Street Journal also reported that Iran has “cut off direct communications with the US over President Trump’s threat to destroy Iran’s 'whole civilization'... though talks with cease-fire mediators continue."

Trump earlier warned that "a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again" — remarks that fueled speculation as his 8 pm Eastern Time (0000GMT Wednesday) deadline for Iran approaches.

Early Tuesday, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar blamed Israel for trying to spoil Islamabad's efforts to facilitate ceasefire talks between the US and Iran by attacking Tehran when "both sides were in a stage to sit down."

"A dangerous development took place last (Monday) night. Israel attacked Iran at a stage when both sides (Washington and Tehran) were set to sit down," Dar told lawmakers in the Pakistani Senate.

"We were very optimistic (about talks) before (Monday) night," he said, adding that Iran and the US had agreed on Pakistan's facilitation, with both sides accepting talks to be held in Islamabad.