ISTANBUL
Iran on Monday denied holding any talks with the US, contradicting remarks by US President Donald Trump that recent “productive conversations” had taken place between the two sides.
The semi-official Mehr news agency, citing an Iranian source, said there is “no dialogue” between Tehran and Washington.
The source said Trump’s comments were part of his efforts “to lower energy prices and buy time to implement military plans.”
The Iranian source acknowledged that regional countries have put forward initiatives aimed at reducing tensions.
“We are not the party that started this war, and all such demands should be directed to Washington,” he added.
Trump said Monday that he has ordered a 5-day postponement of all strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure, citing “very good and productive” talks with Tehran over the past two days.
“I am pleased to report that 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 said on his social media platform Truth Social.
Trump added that based on the “tenor and tone of these in-depth, detailed, and constructive conversations, which [sic] will continue throughout the week," he has instructed the Department of Defense to postpone all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five-day period.
The pause is subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions, he added.
This comes as regional escalation has continued to flare since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on Feb. 28, killing so far over 1,340 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, along with Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation.