Iran has reaffirmed that its decisions will be guided by its national interests as diplomatic contacts with the United States continue, after US President Donald Trump claimed Washington was holding "good talks" with Tehran while simultaneously threatening to resume military action if negotiations fail.

Speaking aboard Air Force One on Monday, Trump acknowledged that the two sides remain engaged in dialogue and said there was "a good chance" of reaching an agreement.

"They want to meet, and we are meeting. We'll see what happens. There is a chance we can make a deal," Trump said.

Despite expressing optimism about diplomacy, the US president warned that Washington could return to military operations if negotiations do not produce the outcome it seeks.

"If it doesn't, then we go back to doing what we were doing two days ago," Trump said, underscoring what Tehran has repeatedly described as Washington's reliance on military pressure alongside diplomatic engagement.

Trump further claimed that Iran's willingness to negotiate resulted from recent US military strikes, saying Tehran sought talks because it had been "hit very hard."

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei rejected the US narrative, stressing that Iran's policies are determined independently and in accordance with its national interests.

Baghaei said the United States had violated both the Pakistani-mediated memorandum of understanding signed in June and the broader framework intended to end the conflict that erupted earlier this year.

According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Washington's military strikes breached the agreement and undermined efforts to establish lasting regional stability.

Baghaei stated that Iran subsequently suspended its commitments under the memorandum in response to what he described as repeated American violations, emphasizing that any future Iranian decisions would be based on safeguarding the country's sovereignty and security.

The latest exchange followed US airstrikes inside Iran, which Washington said were conducted in response to incidents involving commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran, however, maintained that its subsequent military operations targeted facilities and bases used by US forces in the Gulf in legitimate self-defense following American attacks on Iranian territory.

Iranian officials have repeatedly insisted that while Tehran does not seek war, it will respond decisively to any act of aggression and will continue to defend its sovereignty against external threats.

Although military tensions have intensified, indirect diplomatic contacts between Tehran and Washington continue through regional mediators, including Pakistan, Oman, and Qatar.

Iranian officials have consistently stated that they remain open to meaningful diplomacy, provided negotiations are conducted on the basis of mutual respect, equality, and full compliance with previous commitments rather than threats or coercion.

Tehran has also stressed that confidence can only be restored if Washington ends what Iranian officials describe as its policy of military intimidation and honors the agreements it has signed.

Analysts say the continuation of diplomatic contacts reflects Iran's preference for resolving disputes through dialogue while preserving its national dignity and strategic independence.

Iranian leaders have repeatedly emphasized that sustainable peace in the region depends on respect for state sovereignty, adherence to international agreements, and the abandonment of unilateral military actions.

While Trump expressed hope that negotiations could produce an agreement, Iranian officials maintain that any future understanding must include credible guarantees that the United States will respect its commitments and refrain from further military escalation. (ILKHA)