US President Donald Trump has said Washington is in contact with multiple leaders in Iran, including a “top person,” even as Tehran strongly denied that any talks are taking place.
Speaking to CNBC, Trump said the outreach was initiated by Iran. “I didn't call them. They called. They wanted to make a deal, and we are also willing to make a deal,” he said.
At a separate press briefing, Trump added that the US was engaging a senior Iranian figure, but not the country’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
“We've wiped out the leadership phase one, phase two, and largely phase three. But we're dealing with the man who I believe is the most respected and the leader,” Trump said, describing the individual as “very reasonable.”
He also signalled uncertainty around Khamenei’s condition. “Nobody has heard from him, and we don't know if he is living. I don't want the leader of Iran to be killed; nobody wants that job right now,” Trump said.
The Jersalem Post, along with other media reports, signalled that the person the US was in touch with was Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
Iran rejects talks, calls claims ‘fake news’
However, Iranian officials, including Ghalibaf, and state media flatly rejected Trump’s claims.
“No negotiations have been held with the US, and fakenews is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped,” said Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf in a post on X.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson also denied any engagement over the past several weeks, while state broadcaster IRIB said Trump’s remarks were an attempt to deflect from earlier threats.
“Trump's false claim is an attempt to escape his recent threat on Iran's power infrastructure. Iran's stance on the Strait of Hormuz has not changed,” IRIB said.
Talks claim comes after US pauses strikes
Trump’s remarks came after he ordered a five-day pause on planned strikes targeting Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure, citing what he described as “very good” and “productive” discussions.
The decision marked a shift from his earlier ultimatum to “obliterate” Iran’s power facilities if Tehran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the pause was “subject to the success of the ongoing meetings,” signalling that military action could resume if talks fail.
“We'll see how that goes and if it goes well, we're going to end up with sett this. Otherwise we just keep bombing our little hearts here,” he said.
‘Regime change’ claim and nuclear demands
Trump reiterated that “regime change” was effectively underway, citing the killing of several senior Iranian officials during the conflict.
He also said there were “major points of agreement” in talks, with the US demanding that Iran abandon its nuclear programme and hand over enriched uranium stockpiles.
“We want no enrichment, but we also want the enriched uranium,” he said.
Markets react, war risks remain
Trump’s comments briefly eased global market fears, with oil prices falling sharply after weeks of volatility driven by the conflict and disruption in the Strait of Hormuz.
However, the stark contrast between Washington’s claims and Tehran’s denials highlights the fragile and uncertain nature of any potential diplomatic opening.
With threats of continued bombing on one side and outright rejection on the other, the situation remains highly volatile as the war enters a critical phase.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
Find the best of Al News in one place, specially curated for you every weekend.
Stay on top of the latest tech trends and biggest startup news.
