Iran rejects Trump’s claims of ‘productive talks’, calls it ‘part of efforts to reduce energy prices’
Iran’s foreign ministry has rejected US President Donald Trump’s claims that talks were underway between the two countries.
Calling it a “part of efforts to reduce energy prices and buy time for the implementation of his military plans,” Iran’s foreign ministry has said there was “no dialogue” between Washington and Tehran, state-affiliated Mehr News reported.
Other Iranian media news outlets had also said that no talks are underway after Trump announced that he was pausing military strikes on Iran’s power plants. Trump also claimed in a Truth Social post that the two countries had held “very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East” over the last two days.
Citing a source, Iran’s Fars news agency said there are no direct or indirect communications with the United States, despite Trump’s recent statement about “productive” talks with Tehran.
Fars said Trump had retreated after hearing that Iran would respond by attacking all power plants in the region.
What Trump said
The US President had announced that Washington and Tehran were engaged in “very good and productive conversations regarding a “complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the middle east”. Oil prices fell as much as 13 per cent after the announcement, with Brent crude cooling below $100 a barrel. US stock also rose.
“I am pleased to report that the United States of America, and the country of Iran, have had, over the last two days, very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East. Based on the tenor and tone of these in depth, detailed, and constructive conversations, which will continue throughout the week, I have instructed the Department of War to postpone any and all military strikes against iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five day period, subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President Donald J. Trump”.
‘Firm warning’
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Shortly after Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social platform, Iranian state television had put up a graphic: “US president backs down following Iran’s firm warning.”
An Iranian official had said the Strait of Hormuz, the critical maritime chokepoint that carries a fifth of the world’s crude oil, will not return to pre-war conditions and energy markets will remain unsettled, Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported.
Tasnim also said no negotiations are underway with the US.
The news agency said to be close to the IRGC said the US President backed down from “attacking critical Iranian infrastructure amid financial market pressure, warning Tehran would continue to defend itself until it achieves deterrence”.
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Didn’t start war: Iran
Iran’s foreign ministry also said there are “initiatives” from neighbouring nations to “reduce tensions,” according to Mehr News. “Our response to all of them is clear: we are not the party that started this war, and all these requests should be referred to Washington.”
The latest conflict in West Asia began with coordinated US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior military and political leaders were killed in those strikes.
Before pause, a deadline
On late Saturday (US time), Trump had given Iran a 48-hour ultimatum to re-open the Strait of Hormuz. If Iran failed to do so, US would “obliterate” the country’s power plants, the US President warned.
“If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST,” the Trump wrote on Truth Social.
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Iran responded with its own set of counter-threats, warning it would retaliate with strikes on “all energy, information technology, and desalination infrastructure belonging to the US and the regime in the region”. Later, it threatened to “completely shut” the Strait if Iran’s power plants were hit.
