Tehran, Aug. 1 -- Tehran has asserted that Washington is discreetly pursuing talks while publicly threatening an escalation of hostilities, as tensions escalate over potential new American strikes targeting Iranian sites.

The statement was made on Saturday by Iranian legislator Hassan Ghashghavi, who charged the US administration with conveying conflicting signals in a bid to coerce Tehran.

In a post on X, Ghashghavi maintained that Washington was openly discussing an expansion of the conflict while concurrently utilising established diplomatic channels to request negotiations in private.

"In the media, they speak of escalating tensions, but through existing channels, they are asking for negotiations," Ghashghavi wrote.

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