Iran’s parliament speaker denies US talks, blames ‘fake news’ for market moves

TEHRAN: Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf on Monday firmly denied there had been any negotiations with the United States, contradicting recent claims by US President Donald Trump that talks with Tehran were under way.

“There has been no communication with the United States,” Qalibaf said, rejecting assertions of dialogue and dismissing reports of talks as misinformation.

He said some of the media coverage was part of efforts to artificially influence global oil markets and financial systems.

Qalibaf added that the Iranian public wants any aggression against the country to be met with a strong and “instructive” response, underscoring Tehran’s hard line in the conflict with Washington and its allies. He also said the Iranian government was united with the Supreme Leader and the Iranian people in opposing what he described as foreign pressure.

Earlier, in a statement, Tehran’s Foreign Ministry emphasized that measures exist to reduce tensions, but argued that Washington should initiate dialogue, noting, “We did not start this war.”

Iranian officials also suggested that Trump may be attempting to gain time before taking major action, calling his threats deceptive.

The denials follow Trump’s announcement of a five‑day pause on threatened strikes against Iranian power infrastructure — a move he said reflected “very good and productive” talks aimed at ending hostilities.

Tehran’s state media and officials have repeatedly denied direct or indirect negotiations with US counterparts, saying the US was using the situation to influence energy prices and buy time for military planning.

Analysts say the conflicting narratives underscore deep mistrust between Tehran and Washington, even as the war — now in its fourth week — continues to roil markets and fuel geopolitical uncertainty. Mediation efforts by regional countries including Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan have been reported, but Iran has made clear it is not engaging in formal talks with U.S. officials.