Conflicting reports emerged Monday regarding potential negotiations to end the ongoing war, as President Trump both extended a deadline for potential strikes on Iranian power plants and claimed talks were underway, while Iranian officials denied any dialogue with U.S. Representatives.
“We are in the throes of a real possibility of making a deal,” Trump told reporters. He added, “If I were a betting man, I’d bet for it — but again, I’m not guaranteeing anything.”
The President’s statements followed a social media post announcing a five-day postponement of planned strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure, citing “extremely good and productive conversations regarding 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 within 48 hours.
Oil prices, which had risen due to disruptions in oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, reportedly fell after Trump’s announcement, a shift he acknowledged.
“The price of oil will drop like a rock as soon as a deal is done. I guess it already is today,” Trump said.
Iranian officials countered these claims, suggesting Trump was attempting to manipulate financial and oil markets and escape a “quagmire” involving the U.S. And Israel. Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Iran’s parliament speaker, stated on X, “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 Iranian Foreign Ministry statement acknowledged regional initiatives to reduce tensions but denied negotiations with the Trump administration, framing Trump’s message as an attempt to reassure markets and “buy time” for military operations.
Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, who previously mediated between Tehran and Washington, said Oman was “working intensively to set in place safe passage arrangements” for the Strait of Hormuz. Albusaidi stated, “Whatever your view of Iran, this war is not of their making,” and warned of worsening economic problems if the conflict continues.
Trump claimed his Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner were directly involved in talks with Iranian counterparts, which he said were ongoing. He stated negotiations were difficult due to the U.S. Having killed many Iranian leaders, including former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but that his envoys were speaking with “a top person” he considered “the most respected” leader in the country.
Trump clarified this leader was not the current Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, and expressed uncertainty about the younger Khamenei’s status. When asked why Iran denied talks, Trump suggested their telecommunications networks had been “blown to pieces.”
Trump asserted that 15 points of agreement had been reached, including a commitment from Iran not to develop nuclear weapons, and that the U.S. Would take possession of any remaining enriched uranium. He also suggested the Strait of Hormuz could be “jointly controlled.” He warned that if talks failed, “we’ll just keep bombing our little hearts out.”
Trump indicated Israel “will be very happy” with the potential deal, believing it would bring “long term peace, guaranteed peace” for the U.S. Ally. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Trump had told him there was a “chance” of an agreement based on U.S. War objectives, but also confirmed continued Israeli strikes in Iran and Lebanon, with “more to come.”
The possibility of winding down the war coincides with a build-up of U.S. Forces in the region, including the deployment of three California-based warships and approximately 2,500 Marines, a move criticized by some Democrats.
Trump declined to comment on the deployment or his intentions for the Marines, stating, “We don’t talk about strategy.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted Trump to postpone strikes on Iranian power plants?
Trump stated the postponement was based on “very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East.”
What is Iran’s response to Trump’s claims of negotiations?
Iranian officials have denied any negotiations with the U.S., suggesting Trump’s claims are an attempt to manipulate markets and deflect from the situation.
What has been the impact of the conflict on the global economy?
The war has “badly shaken the global economy,” with 40 energy assets in nine countries “severely or very severely damaged,” and disruptions to oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
What remains to be seen is whether these reported conversations will lead to a de-escalation of the conflict, or if the situation will continue to escalate despite the current pause in planned military action.
