Washington DC

US President Donald Trump has asserted that Iran is keen to negotiate an end to hostilities, even as Tehran strongly denied that any talks with Washington are taking place amid the ongoing West Asia conflict.

Speaking to Fox Business anchor Maria Bartiromo, Trump maintained that discussions were underway and described them as “constructive,” adding that Iran “wants to make a deal badly.” He also indicated that recent conversations had taken place involving senior figures such as Jared Kushner.

However, Iranian authorities rejected these claims. According to Iran’s Foreign Ministry, Trump’s statements were an attempt to buy time for further military planning and to influence global energy markets. Iranian officials insisted there has been “no direct or indirect contact” with the United States.

Temporary pause in strikes

Despite the denial from Tehran, Trump announced a five-day pause in US military strikes targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure. He said the decision was based on the “positive tenor” of recent interactions and expressed hope that talks would continue through the week.

This marks a shift from his earlier hardline stance, where he had issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz—a critical global energy route—warning of severe retaliation if it remained closed.

Iran warns of retaliation

Iran responded with a strong warning. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said any US attack on Iranian infrastructure would trigger irreversible strikes on energy facilities across the region, potentially keeping global oil prices elevated for a prolonged period.

Tehran reiterated that it does not consider itself the initiator of the conflict and said de-escalation efforts should be directed at Washington.

Conflict context

The war, now in its fourth week, began after the killing of Ali Khamenei in joint US-Israeli strikes on February 28. Since then, the region has seen escalating military exchanges, disruptions to shipping routes, and volatility in global energy markets.

With the Strait of Hormuz effectively restricted, the situation continues to impact international trade, oil supplies, and economic stability worldwide.

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Trump’s remarks highlight the conflicting narratives between Washington and Tehran, leaving uncertainty over whether diplomatic backchannels exist or if the pause in strikes is merely tactical amid a rapidly intensifying conflict.