U.S. Special Presidential Envoy to Iraq Tom Barrack publicly backed the Iraqi government's denial of a report alleging secret ceasefire mediation between Washington and Tehran.

The New York Times reported that Iran rejected a secret U.S. ceasefire proposal delivered by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi. 

According to the report, while specific details of the ceasefire proposal remain unclear, Iranian officials stated that Tehran rejected the standalone offer due to its temporary nature and lack of resolution over control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Baghdad Terms NYT Claims ‘Entirely Unfounded’

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister's Media Office dismissed the allegation and framed it as “entirely unfounded and bearing no relation to reality.” 

The office urged media outlets to ensure accuracy by relying on official sources and avoiding unverified, anonymous claims. 

Tom Barrack Supports Iraq’s Denial 

Affirming the Iraqi denial of the report, Tom Barrack wrote on X on Friday, “Iraq getting the record straight.” 

Al-Zaidi Conducts High-Stakes Visits 

Prime Minister al-Zaidi conducted a landmark visit to the United States from July 13 to July 19, meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump to secure new bilateral agreements on economic development, regional security cooperation, and infrastructure investment. 

Just days after returning from Washington, al-Zaidi arrived in Tehran on July 23 at the invitation of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to sign bilateral cooperation agreements. 

The meetings coincide with heightened regional tensions, the collapse of a ceasefire, and an escalating military confrontation between the United States and Iran in recent days. 

While in Tehran, al-Zaidi stressed that “the security of Iraq and Iran is interconnected and that Iraq will not allow any threat to Iran to originate from its territory.” 

Araghchi: Iran Has No Mediation Issue 

Speaking to reporters regarding the Iraqi Prime Minister’s visit, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated it was natural for the prime minister to convey his perspectives from that trip to Tehran. 

“However, we currently do not have a mediation issue with the United States,” he said, adding that existing third-party channels facilitate necessary communication between Tehran and Washington, emphasizing that the primary issue is not an inability to exchange messages.