Iranian media has firmly denied any direct or indirect contact with US President Donald Trump amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, while asserting that Trump withdrew a threat to attack West Asian energy facilities following Iranian warnings.
The development highlights the sharp contrast in narratives between Washington and Tehran during the ongoing conflict, now in its fourth week, marked by strikes on infrastructure, disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, and threats targeting energy assets.
This denial directly counters a statement attributed to Trump announcing “very good and productive conversations” over two days, claiming progress toward a “complete and total resolution” of Middle East hostilities.
In the statement, Trump indicated he had instructed the Department of War to postpone military strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days, contingent on the success of ongoing meetings. The announcement suggested continued discussions throughout the week and framed the pause as a goodwill gesture based on the “tenor and tone” of the talks.
Background on Trump’s Threat and Iranian Response
The reported postponement follows Trump’s earlier ultimatum, delivered via social media, giving Iran 48 hours to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz without threats to shipping. He warned that failure would lead to US strikes to “hit and obliterate” Iranian power plants, starting with the largest ones. This came amid Iran’s blockade actions disrupting global oil transit and retaliatory strikes in the region.
In response, Iranian military and political figures, including Revolutionary Guard spokespersons and parliament leaders, issued stark counter-threats. They warned that any attack on Iranian energy infrastructure would prompt reciprocal strikes on US and allied energy facilities, desalination plants, and other critical assets across West Asia (the broader Middle East region). Tehran signaled readiness to “completely close” the Strait indefinitely and target regional infrastructure supporting US interests if provoked.