Araghchi says his last contact with US envoy Witkoff was before war began

Iranian Foreign ​Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Monday that his last contact with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff was before the U.S. and Israel launched their war on Iran, contradicting an earlier media report that a direct communications channel between the two men was reactivated in recent days.

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

"Any claim to the contrary appears geared solely to mislead oil traders and the public."

Axios reported that a direct communications channel between Witkoff and Araghchi was reactivated in recent days. The report cited a U.S. official and a source with knowledge of the matter, who said Araghchi had sent text messages to Witkoff.

The Drop Site News outlet had earlier reported that Witkoff sent messages to Araghchi. It quoted Iranian officials as saying Araghchi was ignoring Witkoff's messages.

The U.S. ​and Israel launched their war on Iran on February 28. The war has killed over 1,300 people in Iran, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and top security chief Ali Larijani.

Iran has responded with its own strikes on Israel and has hit Gulf countries. The war has raised oil prices and shaken markets globally.