Trump-Iran Conflict: Deal Talks & Conflicting Reports Amidst War Fears
President Trump on Monday extended a deadline he had set for potential military strikes against Iran, claiming “very quality and productive conversations” were underway, even as Iranian officials vehemently denied any negotiations with the United States. The conflicting statements came as oil prices, which had surged earlier in the day, experienced a sharp decline following Trump’s announcement.
“We are in the throes of a real possibility of making a deal,” Trump told reporters, adding that he would “bet” on a resolution. His remarks followed a social media post stating the postponement of planned strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days, citing the ongoing discussions toward a “complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East.” Trump had previously warned that the U.S. Would “obliterate” Iran’s power plants if the Strait of Hormuz was not reopened to ship traffic within 48 hours.
The price of oil, Trump noted, “will drop like a rock as soon as a deal is done. I guess it already is today.”
However, Iranian officials swiftly rejected Trump’s assertions of negotiations. Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s parliament, stated on X (formerly Twitter) that “No negotiations have been held with the U.S., and fake news is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped.” An earlier statement from Iran’s Foreign Ministry, reported by the semiofficial Mehr news agency, acknowledged “regional initiatives to reduce tensions” but denied direct talks with the Trump administration, characterizing Trump’s message as an attempt to reassure markets and “buy time” for potential military operations.
Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, who previously mediated between Tehran and Washington, indicated Oman was “working intensively to put in place safe passage arrangements” for the Strait of Hormuz. In a post on X, Albusaidi stated, “Whatever your view of Iran, this war is not of their making,” and warned of escalating economic consequences if the conflict continues.
The conflict, now in its fourth week, has resulted in over 2,000 deaths and significantly impacted the global economy, with strikes targeting oil and gas facilities and civilian infrastructure. Trump had threatened to destroy Iranian power plants, potentially disrupting electricity, water desalination, and nuclear facilities, if Iran did not allow the resumption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responded with a threat to retaliate by targeting power plants in countries hosting American bases and those with U.S. Economic interests.
Trump claimed his Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner had been directly involved in talks with Iranian counterparts late Sunday and continuing Monday. He stated they were speaking with “a top person” he considered the country’s most respected leader, but not Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the successor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Trump added that the U.S. Had not heard from the younger Khamenei and was unsure of his status.
Trump attributed any confusion regarding the denial of talks to potential disruptions in Iranian leadership’s telecommunications networks, which he claimed had been “blown to pieces.” He asserted that the two sides had reached 15 points of agreement, including a commitment from Iran not to develop nuclear weapons, and that the U.S. Would remove any enriched uranium from Iran following previous strikes on its nuclear sites. He also suggested the Strait of Hormuz could be “jointly controlled.” He concluded by stating that if negotiations fail, “we’ll just keep bombing our little hearts out.”
The pause in threatened military action was welcomed internationally, though concerns remain about the ongoing disruption to oil flows through the strait. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated at a news conference in Nigeria that “Any attacks on infrastructure are causing chaos in the region and really escalating this war even further.” Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency, told Australia’s National Press Club that 40 energy assets in nine countries had been “severely or very severely damaged,” warning that “No country will be immune to the effects of this crisis if it continues to head in this direction.”
Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, issued a statement that “deliberate attacks on essential services and civilian infrastructure can amount to war crimes.”
Trump indicated that Israel “will be very happy” with the potential deal, anticipating “long term peace, guaranteed peace” for the U.S. Ally. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Trump had informed him of a “chance” of an agreement based on U.S. War objectives, but also affirmed that Israel would continue strikes in Iran and Lebanon, with “more to come.”
The potential for de-escalation comes amid a U.S. Military build-up in the region, with the Pentagon deploying three California-based warships and approximately 2,500 Marines, a move criticized by some Democrats. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) warned of “a new forever war.” Trump declined to comment on the deployment or the Marines’ intended role, stating, “Do you really believe I’d give you an answer? Crazy question.”