However, Iranian authorities, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, categorically denied this information, accusing Trump of spreading misinformation and manipulating oil prices. Nevertheless, some Iranian diplomats, in unofficial comments, acknowledged that Tehran received proposals from the U.S. through intermediaries and is analyzing them.
Intermediary Connections and Conditions
According to media reports, negotiations may be taking place through third countries such as Turkey, Egypt, and Pakistan. They involve American representatives, including Special Envoy Steve Whitcoff and Jared Kushner, and from Iran, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.Trump noted that negotiations are being conducted with a "key figure" in Iran, without mentioning the Supreme Leader. He added that one of the main conditions for reaching an agreement is Tehran's abandonment of its nuclear weapons program.
Deadlines for Reaching an Agreement
The American president set a five-day deadline for reaching an agreement, warning that otherwise, strikes could resume with greater intensity. He emphasized that the U.S. is prepared for both scenarios: a peaceful resolution and an escalation of the conflict.Earlier, Trump threatened to attack Iranian energy infrastructure if Tehran did not open the Strait of Hormuz. In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps expressed its readiness to close the strait until the damaged infrastructure is restored.
Ongoing Hostilities
Despite statements about negotiations, hostilities in the region continue. The Israel Defense Forces reported striking one of the IRGC headquarters in Tehran, from where Iranian military actions and the activities of the "Basij" forces were coordinated.Iran also reported conducting drone attacks on Israel and U.S. bases in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Although there has been no official confirmation of these attacks from the mentioned countries, air raid alerts have been recorded in the region.
Market Reaction to Oil
Trump's statements about negotiations had an immediate impact on oil prices: the price of Brent crude fell from around $108 to $94 per barrel, before partially recovering to $97.Experts note that such contradictory rhetoric, combining public statements about negotiations with simultaneous escalation of the conflict, remains characteristic of the current situation, and the real prospects for an agreement in the coming days remain uncertain.
Photo on the main page: EPA / Shutterstock.
