Donald Trump has been accused of creating “fake news” in an attempt to soothe financial markets after he hit a pause on striking Iran’s energy infrastructure and announced that the US was having “productive” discussions with Tehran on ending the war.
Iran’s parliament speaker quickly denied any discussions had taken place, and condemned the US president for spreading misinformation in a bid to “escape the quagmire”.
Mr Trump said on Monday he was extending a 48-hour deadline for Iran to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz or face attacks on its power plants, saying it has an additional five days.
He told reporters Iran wanted "to make a deal," and claimed US envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner had held talks with an Iranian leader on Sunday. UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer indicated he was aware of talks without giving further details.
But Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bager Galibaf said: “No negotiations have been held with the US, and fake news is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped.”
Mr Galibaf’s claims have contradicted Mr Trump, who said the two countries had been in discussions to end the war since Saturday night.
Speaking from Memphis, Tennessee, on Monday, the president said: “We were planning tomorrow on shooting down some of their power plants, we’re gonna hold that up, hopefully we won't have to do it.
“We are now having really good discussions, they started last night, a little bit the night before that. I think they’re really good. They want peace, they agreed they will not have a nuclear weapon.
“I think there's a very good chance we're going to end up with a deal and so we're giving it five days and then we're going to see where that takes us.”
Mr Trump said the pause on the planned airstrikes was “subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions” - following it, oil and gas prices plunged, with security in the Strait of Hormuz key to worldwide supplies.
In response, Iranian state television showed a TV banner, which read: “US president backs down following Iran's firm warning.”
Over the weekend, Iran said it would strike the energy and water systems of its Gulf neighbours in retaliation if Mr Trump followed through with his threat to attack energy infrastructure.
Despite Monday’s claim by Mr Trump that the war in Iran could soon come to a close, Israel launched new attacks on Tehran, saying it was targeting infrastructure. Explosions were heard in multiple locations.
Professor Maziyar Ghiabi, the director of the centre for Persian and Iranian studies at the University of Exeter, said: “The offer of five days to reach a deal by US President Donald Trump has provided relief to financial markets. However, while the US president announced diplomatic communication with his Iranian counterpart, the Israeli air force carried out extensive bombing of Iranian infrastructure.
“The objectives of the United States and Israel appear to differ, with Tel Aviv preparing for a prolonged conflict that, so far, has had only limited material impact compared to that experienced by GCC countries and US bases.
“The key question is whether the US administration will be able to disentangle itself from Israeli strategy, or whether it will be drawn into a prolonged war with global repercussions—as well as domestic unpopularity—due to Israel's military offensive. Based on precedents, it is unlikely Israel will restrain from the current strategy unless there is a strong US pressure, which is currently lacking.”
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