US President Donald Trump has said Washington is “very intent on a deal” with Iran and suggested that what is unfolding could amount to “regime change,” even as Tehran rejected claims of any negotiations.
Speaking to Fox News, Trump said a deal with Iran could be reached “within five days or sooner.” He also told CNBC that the US remains focused on securing an agreement, while his administration paused planned strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure to allow talks to continue.
Here are the latest developments:Iran rejects talks with US
Iranian media pushed back strongly against Trump’s claims of ongoing negotiations.
“There are no talks between Tehran and Washington,” the Mehr news agency reported, citing Iran’s foreign ministry. It added that Trump’s remarks were aimed at “to reduce energy prices.”
Iran’s foreign ministry later issued a formal statement, quoted by CBS News, the BBC’s US partner, saying: “We deny what US President Donald Trump said regarding negotiations taking place between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
It added: “The Islamic Republic of Iran adheres to its position rejecting any type of negotiations before achieving Iran's goals from the war.”
Other Iranian outlets echoed the denial, underlining a sharp disconnect between Washington and Tehran’s public positions.
However, a US source quoted by Axios claimed that Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan have been passing messages between the US and Iran over the past two days. The foreign ministers of the three countries held separate talks with White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, the source said.
Russia calls for diplomatic solution
Sergei Lavrov urged restraint during a call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
According to Russia’s foreign ministry, Lavrov called for an “immediate cessation of hostilities and a political settlement that takes into account the legitimate interests of all parties involved, above all Iran.”
Trump claims “productive” talks, pauses strikes for 5 days
Trump said on social media that the US and Iran had held “VERY GOOD AND PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS REGARDING A COMPLETE AND TOTAL RESOLUTION OF OUR HOSTILITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST.”
He confirmed that US forces have been ordered to hold off on strikes targeting Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days.
Markets reacted sharply, with crude prices dropping as much as 14 percent following his remarks.
Oman steps in on Hormuz
Badr Albusaidi said Muscat is working to restore safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
“Oman is working intensively to put in place safe passage arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz,” he said, adding, “Whatever your view of Iran, this war is not of their making.”
Explosions rock Tehran
Multiple strong explosions were reported in central Tehran, according to an AFP journalist.
The exact targets were not immediately known, but the blasts were powerful enough to rattle buildings across parts of the capital.
US carrier pulls back
The USS Gerald Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, has returned to Souda Bay in Crete.
The vessel had been central to US operations in the region and recently reported a fire onboard that injured two crew members.
Iran threatens regional power grid
Iranian state media released infographics highlighting power plants across the region as potential targets.
One graphic carried the message “Say goodbye to electricity!” and listed sites in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait, along with Israel’s Orot Rabin and Rutenberg plants.
Israeli ‘friendly fire’ incident
The Israeli military confirmed that its own artillery fire killed a civilian near the northern border.
It admitted that “several severe issues and operational errors took place during the incident, including both the planning and execution of the fire.”
The death was initially attributed to a Hezbollah rocket strike.
Iran warns of naval mines
Iran’s defence council said it would mine “all access routes and communications lines in the Persian Gulf and coastal areas” if its territory is attacked.
The statement added that this could include “drifting mines deployable from the coasts,” raising fears of further disruption to global shipping.
The bigger picture
Trump’s remarks signal a possible diplomatic opening, but Iran’s outright denial of talks and continued military activity on both sides highlight how fragile the situation remains.
With threats to energy infrastructure, shipping routes and regional stability growing, the coming days could prove decisive.
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