Iran Skeptical as Trump Pauses Strikes, Denies Talks
President Donald Trump announced Monday he would delay military strikes against Iranian energy sites for five days, citing “extremely strong talks” with Tehran, a claim immediately disputed by Iranian officials. The announcement came after a weekend of escalating tensions, including a 48-hour ultimatum issued by Trump demanding Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face attacks on its power plants.
Trump, speaking to reporters, stated that the US and Iran had reached “major points of agreement” that could potentially end the ongoing conflict. He identified Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner as key US envoys involved in the discussions, stating they had spoken with a “top person” in the Iranian regime on Sunday and would continue talks by phone. He declined to name the Iranian official, noting they were not the fresh Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.
However, Iran’s Foreign Ministry swiftly rejected Trump’s assertions of negotiations. Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s parliament, stated unequivocally, “no negotiations have been held with the US.” This denial was echoed by Iranian state-run media, casting doubt on the nature of the reported communications.
The initial threat to strike Iranian energy infrastructure, delivered via Trump’s Truth Social account, had stipulated a deadline of 23:44 GMT on Monday. This ultimatum followed a period where the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil passage, remained effectively closed, prompting concerns about disruptions to international energy supplies. The extension of the deadline, Trump said, was directly linked to the ongoing discussions.
Meanwhile, the conflict continues to exact a heavy toll. Reports indicate thousands have been killed in Iran and Lebanon since the start of the conflict, with multiple locations across Tehran targeted in recent Israeli attacks, according to Iranian state media. The US military has reported hitting over 9,000 targets in Iran and destroying at least 140 Iranian vessels, alongside conducting over 9,000 combat flights since the war began on February 28th, according to a statement from U.S. Central Command.
Amidst the escalating tensions, Israel has redeployed a combat battalion from its northern border with Lebanon to the occupied West Bank. This move comes in response to a surge in settler violence against Palestinians, with an average of 10 settler attacks per day reported since the beginning of March, according to the Israeli human rights group Yesh Din. The redeployment signifies a significant shift in resource allocation as Israel expands ground operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
Iran’s army has warned that it will target energy and desalination infrastructure “belonging to the US and the regime in the region” if Trump proceeds with military action. Tehran previously stated restrictions on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz were limited to those from countries involved in attacks against Iran, offering assistance to others that remain neutral.
As of Monday afternoon, the US has engaged in over 7,000 strikes against targets in Iran, and destroyed at least 100 Iranian vessels, according to U.S. Central Command. The situation remains fluid, with the five-day extension of the strike deadline representing a temporary pause in the immediate threat of military escalation, but no guarantee of a lasting resolution.