Trump Claims "Very Good" Dialogue with Senior Iranian Official
US President Donald Trump delivered a diplomatic surprise on Monday local time by claiming “very good” progress in discussions with a senior Iranian official. This statement came suddenly after Trump had postponed plans for a new attack on the Islamic Republic’s energy infrastructure.
Nevertheless, this one-sided claim was quickly refuted by Tehran. Iranian officials accused Trump of manipulating the global energy market. Despite the denial, markets reacted positively; world oil prices reportedly plummeted, while stock exchanges surged as investors perceived an opportunity for de-escalation.
A report from Axios, citing Israeli official sources, identified the individual communicating with Trump as Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s Parliament Speaker and the most influential non-clerical figure currently. However, Ghalibaf stated via social media platform X that “no negotiations” were underway.
“Trump is trying to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire where the US and Israel are stuck,” Ghalibaf wrote.
In agreement, Esmaeil Baqaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, acknowledged messages from “friendly countries” regarding a US request to negotiate an end to the war, but denied that such talks had materialised.
On the other side, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged the possibility of a deal after speaking with Trump. However, Netanyahu emphasised that the Israeli military (IDF) would not ease attacks on Iran and Lebanon.
“Trump believes there is an opportunity to leverage the extraordinary achievements of the IDF and US military to achieve the war’s objectives through an agreement, an agreement that will safeguard our vital interests,” Netanyahu said. “At the same time, we continue to strike both in Iran and in Lebanon.”
Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, a route for one-fifth of the world’s crude oil, have posed a serious threat to the global economy. Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency (IEA), warned that a prolonged war could make this energy crisis worse than the 1970s oil crisis.
Moments after Trump’s claim emerged, Brent crude oil prices fell sharply by around 12 per cent to $98.95 per barrel, after previously holding above $100.
Trump mentioned several key points of agreement, including demands for Iran to halt its nuclear ambitions and surrender its enriched uranium reserves. However, he also issued a stern warning. If talks fail within the next five days, the US threatens to resume massive airstrikes.
To date, thousands of US Marines are reportedly heading to the Middle East as a precautionary measure in case diplomacy stalls and military operations to secure oil assets or forcibly open the Strait of Hormuz become necessary. (AFP/Z-2)