Iran denies US talks as Trump delays strike on power grid

Iran said on Monday that it had not held any negotiations with the United States, rejecting claims by President Donald Trump, who had delayed a planned strike on Iran’s power grid after describing talks with unnamed Iranian officials as “productive.”

A European official noted that while there had been no direct contact between Washington and Tehran, countries including Egypt, Pakistan, and several Gulf states had been passing messages between the two sides. A Pakistani official and another source told Reuters that direct discussions on ending the war could take place in Islamabad as early as this week.

Trump wrote on Truth Social that the U.S. and Iran had held “very good and productive” conversations aimed at a “complete and total resolution of hostilities in the Middle East.” He said he would postpone, by five days, a planned attack on Iran’s energy infrastructure. The announcement lifted stock markets and pushed oil prices sharply lower, reversing earlier declines triggered by his weekend threats and Iran’s warnings of retaliation.

Speaking to reporters, Trump said his envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, who had been involved in earlier contacts with Iran, had spoken with a senior Iranian official on Sunday and would continue discussions on Monday. He described the talks as “very, very strong,” adding that there was agreement on “almost all points.”

Later, in Memphis, Trump said negotiations with Iran had been ongoing “for a long time” and suggested a deal could benefit all parties. He did not name the Iranian counterpart but described him as a highly respected leader. Sources, including an Israeli official, identified the interlocutor as Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.

Qalibaf dismissed the claims, writing on X that no talks had taken place and accusing the U.S. of spreading “fake news” to influence financial and oil markets. He said Iran remained committed to punishing its adversaries and stood united behind its leadership.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards also rejected Trump’s remarks, calling them “psychological operations,” and said they had launched new attacks on U.S. targets. They reported strikes on several Israeli cities, including Dimona and Tel Aviv, as well as U.S. bases, describing their actions as a form of negotiation “through impact-focused operations.”

Israel’s military said it detected missiles fired from Iran on Monday night, the first such launches since Trump’s earlier comments, and reported at least one interception near Jerusalem. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would continue its operations in Lebanon and Iran, though he noted Trump believed a deal might be possible to secure the war’s objectives.

While there was no confirmation of the talks described by Trump, Iran’s foreign ministry pointed to ongoing diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions. It said Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi had discussed developments around the Strait of Hormuz with his Omani counterpart and agreed to continue consultations.

Iran has effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Trump has demanded it be reopened, but Tehran says it will not do so unless U.S. and Israeli attacks cease.

A Pakistani official said U.S. Vice President JD Vance, along with Witkoff and Kushner, could meet Iranian officials in Islamabad this week, following a call between Trump and Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir. The White House confirmed the call but declined to comment on potential meetings, describing the situation as fluid and sensitive.

Iranian media reported that President Masoud Pezeshkian and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had discussed the war’s regional and global security implications, with Pezeshkian emphasizing Iran’s commitment to stability and opposition to foreign interference.

The conflict, which began on February 28 with a U.S.- and Israel-led offensive, has killed more than 2,000 people.