Uncertainty continues to surround whether the United States and Iran are engaged in negotiations, following a week marked by threats, denials and conflicting statements from both sides.
The week began with heightened tensions after US President Donald Trump threatened to use overwhelming force against Iran’s energy infrastructure. He warned that the US would “obliterate” Iran’s power plants, starting with the largest, and set a 48-hour deadline for Tehran to allow shipping to resume through the Strait of Hormuz.
However, just hours before the deadline on Monday, Trump said Iran had returned to the negotiating table, prompting him to delay the planned strikes.
Iran, however, swiftly rejected the claim, insisting that no talks were taking place.
The confusion deepened on Tuesday when Trump said he had sent a 15-point proposal to Iran and reiterated that discussions were ongoing with a senior Iranian official. He also claimed Tehran had given the US a “very big present” of significant value, without providing details.
Despite these assertions, it remains unclear whether any negotiations are actually underway. Analysts note that Iran has a history of publicly denying talks with Washington even when backchannel communications exist, while Trump has previously set and extended diplomatic deadlines during high-stakes standoffs.
With inputs from BBC