Trump Halts Iran Strikes, Insists Talks Underway as Tehran Denies Any Dialogue
Donald Trump has been accused of disseminating "fake news" to calm financial markets after he announced a pause on planned US strikes against Iran's energy infrastructure and declared that the United States is engaged in "productive" discussions with Tehran aimed at ending the ongoing conflict. The Iranian parliament speaker swiftly refuted these claims, condemning the US president for spreading misinformation in an effort to "escape the quagmire" of the war.
Conflicting Narratives Emerge Over Alleged Negotiations
On Monday, Mr Trump stated he was extending a 48-hour deadline for Iran to reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, granting an additional five days before potential attacks on Iranian power plants would proceed. He informed reporters that Iran desires "to make a deal," and asserted that US envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner had conducted talks with an Iranian leader on Sunday. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer indicated awareness of discussions without providing further specifics.
However, Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Bager Galibaf, directly contradicted these assertions, stating: "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." Mr Galibaf's remarks challenge Mr Trump's claim that the two nations have been in discussions to conclude the war since Saturday night.
Trump's Announcement and Market Reactions
Speaking from Memphis, Tennessee, President Trump elaborated: "We were planning tomorrow on shooting down some of their power plants, we're gonna hold that up, hopefully we won't have to do it. We are now having really good discussions, they started last night, a little bit the night before that. I think they're really good. They want peace, they agreed they will not have a nuclear weapon. I think there's a very good chance we're going to end up with a deal and so we're giving it five days and then we're going to see where that takes us."
Mr Trump clarified that the suspension of planned airstrikes is "subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions." Following this announcement, oil and gas prices experienced a significant decline, reflecting the critical importance of security in the Strait of Hormuz to global energy supplies.
Iranian Response and Regional Tensions
In reaction to Trump's statements, Iranian state television displayed a banner reading: "US president backs down following Iran's firm warning." Over the weekend, Iran had threatened to retaliate against the energy and water systems of its Gulf neighbours if Mr Trump proceeded with his threat to attack Iranian energy infrastructure.
Despite Mr Trump's Monday assertion that the war in Iran could soon conclude, Israel launched new attacks on Tehran, targeting infrastructure and causing explosions in multiple locations. This development underscores the complex and volatile dynamics in the region.
Expert Analysis on US-Israel Divergence
Professor Maziyar Ghiabi, director of the Centre for Persian and Iranian Studies at the University of Exeter, commented: "The offer of five days to reach a deal by US President Donald Trump has provided relief to financial markets. However, while the US president announced diplomatic communication with his Iranian counterpart, the Israeli air force carried out extensive bombing of Iranian infrastructure."
Professor Ghiabi continued: "The objectives of the United States and Israel appear to differ, with Tel Aviv preparing for a prolonged conflict that, so far, has had only limited material impact compared to that experienced by GCC countries and US bases. The key question is whether the US administration will be able to disentangle itself from Israeli strategy, or whether it will be drawn into a prolonged war with global repercussions—as well as domestic unpopularity—due to Israel's military offensive. Based on precedents, it is unlikely Israel will restrain from the current strategy unless there is a strong US pressure, which is currently lacking."
