Iran Cuts Off Direct Diplomacy With US, Keeps Backchannels Open

Iran has severed direct diplomatic communications with the United States but is reportedly maintaining indirect backchannels through intermediaries as Trump's strike deadline arrives. The move signals Tehran's refusal to negotiate under overt military pressure while leaving the door slightly open for face-saving arrangements. Analysts warn that the gap between public posturing and private communication is narrowing dangerously as military operations intensify.