Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson has denied holding any talks with the US during the past 24 days, sharply undermining Donald Trump who claimed that the US and Iran have held “very good and productive conversations” on an end to the war.
In recent days, friendly countries sent messages indicating that the US had requested talks to end the war, but Iran had not responded, state news agency IRNA quoted the ministry spokesperson as having said.
Iran’s foreign ministry reportedly said that Trump’s statements were “part of efforts to reduce energy prices and buy time to implement his military plans”, with state media saying they showed the US president was “backing down”.
Late on Saturday evening, Trump threatened to bomb Iran’s power plants after 48 hours unless Iran agreed to fully reopen the strait of Hormuz, the vital oil shipping route which Iran has effectively closed. The deadline was set to expire just before midnight UK time on Monday.
In turn, Iran said it would “irreversibly destroy” essential infrastructure across the Middle East, including vital water systems, if the US followed through on Trump’s threat.
Iran’s defence council earlier today threatened to lay sea mines to block the entire Gulf if Iran’s coasts or islands were attacked. – The Guardian
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