No talks with US, Trump delaying strikes to cut oil prices: Iran
Tehran said there had been no direct or indirect dialogue between the two countries, contradicting Trump’s earlier claim that the US and Iran had held “very good and productive” discussions over the past two days.
Iran has rejected claims of negotiations with the United States, saying Donald Trump is postponing planned attacks mainly to reduce energy prices and buy time for military preparations, reports Al Jazeera.
In a statement carried by Iran's foreign ministry and reported by the state's semi-official Mehr news agency, Tehran said there had been no direct or indirect dialogue between the two countries, contradicting Trump's earlier claim that the US and Iran had held "very good and productive" discussions over the past two days.
Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform that he had instructed the US defence department to postpone strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days, pending the outcome of the alleged talks.
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He also claimed the two sides had "major points of agreement" on resolving the conflict in the Middle East.
However, Iranian media outlets, including Fars news agency, said there had been no communication with Washington, reports Reuters.
Citing an unnamed source, the report said Trump stepped back after Iran warned it would retaliate by targeting power plants across the region if the US carried out the strikes.
Iran also said recent initiatives by regional countries to ease tensions should be directed toward Washington, which it described as "the party that started this war".
Tehran has warned that if the United States attacks Iranian energy infrastructure, it would respond by shutting down the Strait of Hormuz and targeting energy facilities in Israel and Gulf countries.
According to officials in Tehran, the country's Defence Council has also warned that any attack on Iran's southern coast or islands could lead to the laying of sea mines that would disrupt shipping routes in the Gulf region.
