Iran Denies Trump's Claim of 'Productive' Dialogue with the US
JAKARTA - Iran has denied holding any talks with the US, contradicting US President Donald Trump's statement that there had recently been "productive conversations" between the two sides.
The semi-official Mehr news agency, citing Iranian sources, said there was "no dialogue" between Tehran and Washington.
The source said Trump's comments were part of his efforts "to drive down energy prices and buy time for his military plans."
The Iranian source acknowledged that regional countries have put forward initiatives aimed at reducing tensions.
"We are not the party that started this war, and all these demands should be directed to Washington," he said, quoted by ANTARA, Monday, March 23.
Trump on Monday said he had ordered a five-day delay to all attacks on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure, citing "very good and productive" talks with Tehran over the past two days.
"I am pleased to report that the United States and Iran have had very good and productive conversations over the past two days regarding the complete and total termination of our hostilities in the Middle East," Trump said on his social media platform, Truth Social.
Trump added that based on "this deep, detailed, and constructive tone and content of the conversation, which will continue throughout the week," he had instructed the Department of Defense to suspend all military attacks on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days.
The delay depends on the success of ongoing meetings and discussions, he added.
This happened as regional escalation continued to escalate since the US and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran on February 28, which has so far killed more than 1,340 people, including Iran's then-supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.
Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile attacks targeting Israel, along with Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf states hosting US military assets, causing casualties and infrastructure damage as well as disrupting global markets and flights.