Trump says U.S., Iran agree on key terms of potential deal, Tehran denies direct talks

U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington and Tehran had reached agreement on roughly 15 points of a potential deal, including a commitment that Iran would never obtain nuclear weapons, even as Iranian officials denied any direct negotiations with the United States.

Speaking to reporters in Florida on Monday, Trump described ongoing contacts with Iran as “very intense” and said progress had been made toward a broader settlement of the conflict in the Middle East. He did not specify who was representing Tehran in the discussions, saying only that it was not Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei but “the most respected figure in the country.”

U.S. media reports, citing sources, suggested that Washington may be engaging indirectly with Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Axios, citing an Israeli official, said mediators were working to arrange a possible meeting in Islamabad later this week involving U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, and potentially Vice President J.D. Vance.

Other sources told the outlet that no direct talks had taken place, but that messages had been exchanged through intermediaries including Egypt and Turkey.

Iranian officials rejected the claims. Ghalibaf said on social media that “no negotiations” had occurred and accused the United States of spreading “fake news” to influence financial and oil markets. Iran’s foreign ministry also denied any talks with Washington since Feb. 28, when the United States and Israel launched a joint military campaign against the Islamic Republic.

According to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, intermediaries had conveyed messages indicating U.S. willingness to negotiate an end to the conflict, but Tehran had not responded.

Earlier on Monday, Trump said the United States would delay planned strikes on Iran’s power plants and energy infrastructure for five days following what he described as “very successful and productive” discussions. He said he had ordered the Pentagon to suspend operations during that period, contingent on progress in upcoming talks.

The announcement triggered a sharp drop in oil prices, reflecting market expectations that a diplomatic breakthrough could ease supply risks linked to the Strait of Hormuz.

European governments welcomed the pause as an opportunity for de-escalation and called for mediation through the United Nations. Israel urged continued pressure on Iran’s nuclear programme if talks fail, while Russia and China called for restraint, citing risks to global energy security.

In a sign of intensifying diplomatic activity, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a call with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, warning against further strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and urging a political resolution. Moscow said it would raise the issue at the United Nations Security Council.

Analysts said the coming days would be critical, with the outcome of indirect contacts likely to determine whether the conflict moves toward de-escalation or enters a new phase of escalation across the region.