Iran denies US talks as Trump claims progress on deal

Senior Iranian officials are publicly rejecting claims from Washington that negotiations are underway, exposing a clear gap in messaging as the war continues to escalate.

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said flatly that “no negotiations have been held with the US”, dismissing reports of dialogue as misinformation.

“Fakenews [sic] is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped,” he wrote.

That position was reinforced by Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei, who said that while “messages have been received from some friendly countries regarding the US’s request for negotiations to end the war”, there have been no direct talks.

The denials came just hours after US President Donald Trump described “very good and productive conversations” with Iran and announced a five-day pause in planned strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure. The delay, he said, depended on “the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions”.

At the same time, Trump suggested momentum toward a deal.

“They want very much to make a deal. We’d like to make a deal, too,” he said, adding that if talks fail, “we’ll just keep bombing our little hearts out.”

The disconnect reflects a broader pattern: public claims of progress from Washington, countered by categorical denials from Tehran.

On the ground, there is little sign of de-escalation. Israeli forces launched a new wave of strikes on Tehran, while Iran continues missile and drone attacks across the region and maintains pressure on the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for global energy supplies.

Still, indirect channels appear to be active. According to regional reporting, countries including Pakistan, Egypt and Turkiye are attempting to mediate, passing messages between the sides in search of a framework for talks.