Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, dismissed rumors of US-Iran talks as “fake news.” Ghalibaf stated that there have been no negotiations with the US and accused the spread of false information as a tactic to influence financial and oil markets and evade the challenges faced by the US and Israel.
Contrary to Ghalibaf’s statement, US President Donald Trump claimed on Truth Social that productive discussions had taken place between the US and Iran regarding a comprehensive resolution to conflicts in the Middle East. Reports surfaced earlier suggesting that Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were engaged in negotiations with Ghalibaf, with an Israeli official confirming Ghalibaf’s involvement in talks with Washington.
Iran’s semi-official news agency Tasmin echoed Ghalibaf’s denial of negotiations, emphasizing on Telegram that no talks had occurred. Tasmin hinted at upcoming events targeting Tel Aviv and regional allies of the US and Israel, which would diminish any hopes of negotiation with aggressors.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson reiterated the absence of talks with the US, as reported by the state-run IRNA news agency. The ministry maintained its stance on the Strait of Hormuz and the conditions for ending conflicts, according to Esmail Baghaei.
Meanwhile, Trump extended the deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, withholding strikes on Iranian power plants for an additional five days. The initial ultimatum, given on Saturday, demanded Iran to reopen the strait within 48 hours.
The ongoing tensions have resulted in casualties on both sides, with over 1,500 individuals in Iran and more than 1,000 in Lebanon killed in US-Israeli and Israeli strikes, respectively. Additionally, UN peacekeepers reported clashes between Israeli ground forces and Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon. The conflict has also claimed the lives of 15 individuals in Israel and 13 US military members, along with civilian casualties in the Gulf region.
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