The United States and Iranian officials are presenting conflicting narratives regarding the possibility of negotiations related to the ongoing conflict.
President Donald Trump announced that he has postponed planned strikes on Iranian power plants following what he described as “productive” discussions with Tehran. In contrast, Iran’s parliament speaker refuted the existence of any talks, labeling such claims as “fake news.”
An official from the Iranian foreign ministry indicated that Tehran has received “points from the U.S.” through intermediaries, suggesting a potential foundation for future discussions, as reported by CBS News, a partner of the BBC.
The White House responded by emphasizing that speculation about meetings should not be considered conclusive, according to our Washington correspondent.
In the midst of these developments, oil prices surged back above $100 a barrel after a significant drop earlier in the week.
On Monday, the White House appeared to temper speculation regarding potential U.S.-Iran negotiations following President Trump’s remarks about achieving “major” progress toward an agreement. These comments led to reports suggesting that U.S. Vice President JD Vance might represent the administration in discussions with Iran in Pakistan.
However, the White House clarified that the situation remains “fluid” and noted that no formal meetings involving high-ranking officials from the U.S. and Iran have been scheduled. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, “These are sensitive diplomatic discussions, and the U.S. will not negotiate through the press.” She further emphasized that speculation should not be deemed final until officially confirmed by the White House.
In light of the conflicting reports surrounding potential U.S.-Iran negotiations, a senior Iranian foreign ministry official communicated to CBS News: “We received points from the U.S. through mediators, and they are currently under review.” CBS further clarified that this action serves as a “potential precursor to talks,” though no discussions have been confirmed or initiated.
These developments follow President Trump’s assertions about the potential for a deal to end the conflict, countered by Iran’s parliament speaker’s denial of any talks. Trump reiterated the U.S. commitment to halt the conflict after retracting threats to target Iranian energy sites and postponing military strikes.
