Overview
- Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and the foreign ministry denied any negotiations with Washington and labeled reports of talks as fake news.
- The foreign ministry said only that messages arrived through friendly countries, indicating indirect channels rather than direct meetings.
- President Trump said conversations were very good and productive and linked the five-day halt on planned strikes against Iranian power and energy sites to that progress.
- Trump also told reporters he spoke with a top person in Iran without naming the individual, leaving the interlocutor and the substance unclear.
- Coverage points to possible mediators such as Turkey, Egypt, and Pakistan as fighting and missile and drone attacks disrupt the Strait of Hormuz and push energy prices higher.