Today's Edition
Washington (dpa)
Donald Trump said on Monday that the United States and Iran had reached agreement on several key points of a potential deal, even as Tehran denied any negotiations were taking place and dismissed the US President's claims as "fake news".
"They will never have a nuclear weapon. They've agreed to that," Trump told reporters in Florida, adding that "very strong" talks had been held with Iran and "major points of agreement" reached.
Trump said the two sides could speak by phone later on Monday and insisted that both Washington and Tehran wanted to reach a deal to end the war.
He added that the United States was not negotiating with Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, but with what he described as the country's "most respected" figure.
Earlier on Monday, Trump said he would postpone any military strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days following what he called "productive conversations" with Iran, delaying a previous ultimatum.
Iran swiftly rejected Trump's claim that the two sides had been engaged in negotiations to end the war launched by the United States and Israel on February 28, leaving it unclear whether any progress had been made on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial chokepoint for global energy supplies.
Trump had threatened on Saturday to attack Iranian power plants if the strait was not fully reopened within 48 hours.
"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," Trump posted on Truth Social.
"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," Trump wrote in all caps.
The Strait of Hormuz has become a flashpoint in the current US-Israeli war with Iran. Tehran has repeatedly attacked vessels in the waterway, effectively closing off a key shipping route for global oil and gas supplies. The narrow passage between Iran and Oman is the only link between the Gulf and the world's oceans and is one of the most important shipping routes globally, with around 20% of the world's oil supply normally passing through it.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf denied that any negotiations with the United States had taken place, dismissing such reports as "fake news" aimed at manipulating financial and oil markets and helping Washington "escape the quagmire" in which it is stuck.
Iran's Foreign Ministry also said, according to state news agency IRNA, that there had been no negotiations or talks with the United States over the past 24 days. It added that Iran's positions on the Strait of Hormuz and on ending the war remained unchanged.
Iran had threatened on Sunday to retaliate by fully closing the Strait of Hormuz if the United States were to attack Iranian power plants. The waterway would only be reopened once damaged facilities had been rebuilt, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said via state broadcaster IRIB.
Tehran had also warned it could target energy infrastructure and desalination plants in Gulf states allied with the United States. Desalination facilities are considered critical infrastructure in the water-scarce region.
