Iranian parliament speaker denies negotiations with U.S.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf on Monday denied that he was negotiating with the United States after Israeli media named him the point-man for alleged talks between Washington and Tehran.

"No negotiations have been held with the US, and fakenews is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped," he posted on X. "Iranian people demand complete and remorseful punishment of the aggressors.
All Irainan officials stand firmly behind their supreme leader and people until this goal is achieved."

After President Donald Trump on Monday announced that he would postpone threatened strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure in light of negotiations he deemed productive, Israeli media reported that Ghalibaf had led the negotiations.

Notably, Trump did not identify with whom he was negotiating and only clarified that he had not spoken to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. Notably, Tehran has denied negotiations and said that Trump was merely referring to back channels through third-party countries.

Trump has sought, for weeks, to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effecitvely closed throughout the conflict by striking civilian ships that attempt to navigate the waterway.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.