Iran war: Iran on Monday rejected US President Donald Trump’s claims about ongoing discussions between Tehran and Washington to cease hostilities in the Middle East, asserting that no such talks have taken place, accusing Trump of spreading “fake news” to manipulate markets.
What did Iran say on Trump’s claim of US-Iran talks?
Taking to X, Iran’s Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Trump’s claim of negotiations between Washington and Tehran are aimed to “manipulate the financial and oil markets”, and an attempt to rescue US and Israel out of the “quagmire” they find themselves in by waging war on Iran.
“No negotiations have been held with the US, and fake news is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped. Iranian people demand complete and remorseful punishment of the aggressors. All Iranian officials stand firmly behind their supreme leader and people until this goal is achieved,” Ghalibaf said on X.
‘Messages from US received and responded to’
Notably, while the speaker dismissed claims of any discussions with the United States, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said messages from the US, conveyed through friendly countries to initiate talks and end the conflict, have been received and responded to in accordance with Iran’s principles, Press TV reported.
Baqaei reiterated Tehran’s warning that any attack on Iran’s critical infrastructure, particularly energy facilities, would prompt a swift and decisive response from the country’s armed forces.
The spokesperson also rejected claims of any negotiations with Washington over the past 24 days, reiterating that Iran’s stance on the Strait of Hormuz and the conditions for ending the war remain unchanged, according to Press TV.
Trump announces 5-day pause on strikes amid purported talks
Iran’s response comes after Donald Trump, earlier today, announced that Washington and Tehran have been holding talks over the past two days and the United States has agreed to pause attacks on Iran’s energy infrastructure for five days.
The US president added that the “in-depth, detailed, and constructive conversations” will continue through the week, and said he has directed the war department to pause military strikes on Iranian energy sites for five days, citing the “tenor and tone” of talks between the Washington and Tehran.
“Based on the tenor and tone of these in-depth, detailed, and constructive conversations, which will continue throughout the week, I have instructed the Department of War to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five-day period, subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions,” Trump said.
Did Trump backtrack after Hormuz ultimatum?
Earlier, on Sunday, Trump had issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Tehran to “fully open” the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours or the US would “obliterate” Iran’s power plants and energy infrastructure.
“If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!” Trump has said in a Truth Social post on Sunday.
In response, the Iranian leadership had warned that any attack on Iranian power plants or infrastructure would invite retaliatory strikes on regional energy facilities.
