In a dramatic development, Donald Trump announced early Monday that his administration had been engaged in what he described as “productive” discussions with Iran aimed at achieving a “complete and total resolution” to the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with the Islamic Republic.
Trump later indicated that both sides were nearing a potential agreement. According to him, the deal would require Iran to abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons and halt uranium enrichment—terms he claimed would strongly satisfy Israel. Despite these assertions, Iranian officials denied that any direct negotiations were taking place, even as reports suggested the possibility of indirect communication channels between the two sides.
Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, initially remained silent. However, several hours later, he released a video statement confirming that he had spoken with Trump earlier that day. Netanyahu said the US president believed there was an opportunity to capitalize on what he described as significant military gains by both Israeli and US forces, potentially leading to an agreement that would safeguard Israel’s key interests.
Trump’s announcement followed his earlier threat, issued nearly two days prior, to strike Iranian power plants if Tehran failed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. On Monday, however, he revealed that he had decided to delay any military action for five days to allow time for diplomatic efforts to continue.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated that recent discussions between the US and Iran had been “very good and productive.” He added that, based on the positive tone of these talks, he had instructed defense authorities to postpone planned strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure, contingent on continued progress in negotiations. In subsequent remarks to CNBC, he described the talks as “very intense” and suggested they could lead to major political change in Iran.
Iran, however, strongly rejected these claims. The semi-official Fars news agency reported that no direct or indirect talks had occurred, citing sources that suggested the US had stepped back from its threats after warnings of a strong Iranian response. Iran’s foreign ministry also confirmed that while messages had been received via “friendly countries,” no formal negotiations had taken place since the conflict began.
When questioned about Iran’s denial, Trump suggested internal communication issues within Iran might explain the discrepancy. He maintained that key areas of agreement had already been reached and expressed optimism that a deal could be finalized within days. However, he warned that if sufficient progress was not made within the five-day window, military action could resume.
