Iranian source tells CNN: US-Iran outreach confirmed, initiated by Washington — 'not full negotiations'

An unnamed Iranian source told CNN on Day 25 that there has been 'outreach between the United States and Iran initiated by Washington in recent days,' but nothing that has 'reached the level of full-on negotiations.' The disclosure is significant: senior Iranian officials have publicly denied Trump's claims about US-Iran talks, while this source privately confirms the outreach exists. Iran is reportedly 'not asking for a meeting or direct talks' but is 'willing to listen if a plan for a sustainable deal comes within reach that would preserve the national interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran.' Any deal must end all sanctions on Iran. Iran is 'ready to provide all necessary guarantees that it will never develop nuclear weapons' but insists it is 'entitled to peaceful use of nuclear technology.' Messages have been sent through mediators 'to scope out whether an agreement to end the war can be reached,' with proposals aimed not merely at a ceasefire but 'a concrete agreement to end the conflict.' This contradicts the hardened public posture (Hormuz control demands, refusing missile limits) reported by Reuters — suggesting Iran is pursuing both a hardened public negotiating stance and a separate private channel.