Iran launched another wave of missile attacks against Israel on Tuesday, just hours after Donald Trump claimed “very good” talks were underway to end the conflict, despite Tehran denying any negotiations had taken place.
Trump’s comments, made ahead of a self-imposed deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face US strikes on its power infrastructure, briefly eased market jitters and caused oil prices to fall. He said his administration was in contact with an unnamed “top person” in Iran and warned that if talks fail in five days, “we’ll just keep bombing our little hearts out.”
Axios, citing an unnamed Israeli official, identified Trump’s contact as Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner could meet an Iranian delegation in Pakistan this week, potentially joined by Vice President JD Vance, according to the report. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said the meetings were not yet formally confirmed.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he spoke with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian to offer Islamabad’s help in securing peace. However, Ghalibaf denied any negotiations, accusing Trump of trying “to manipulate the financial and oil markets.” Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei confirmed messages from “friendly countries” seeking talks but reiterated no formal negotiations had occurred, according to IRNA.
Benjamin Netanyahu said he spoke with Trump, acknowledging the US saw a deal as possible, but vowed to continue military operations in Iran and Lebanon. Early Tuesday, Iranian state media reported missile strikes on Israel, showing damage to a northern building but no casualties.
The escalation comes after Trump paused a threat to strike Iran’s power infrastructure on Monday, which had prompted Tehran to threaten attacks on regional energy sites and waterways. Security analyst Danny Citrinowicz noted Trump “blinked first,” avoiding an immediate energy crisis escalation.
Thousands of US Marines are being deployed to the Middle East, bolstering forces amid speculation of potential ground operations targeting Iranian oil assets or reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Since the conflict began, Iran has retaliated by restricting maritime traffic, attacking Gulf energy sites, and targeting US embassies and Israel.
Fatih Birol warned that a prolonged war could cause global oil losses exceeding the combined impact of the 1970s oil crises and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Brent crude has surpassed $100 per barrel but fell sharply following Trump’s announcement of tentative talks.
Trump said preliminary points of agreement exist, including demands for Iran to abandon nuclear ambitions and surrender enriched uranium stockpiles. Meanwhile, Netanyahu has vowed a long-term campaign against Iran and its ally Hamas, which initiated the October 7, 2023 Gaza attacks.
In Lebanon, Israel continues operations against Iran-backed Hezbollah, striking southern Beirut and claiming two captures, with more than 1,000 fatalities and over a million displaced, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. The war has killed at least 3,230 Iranians, including 1,406 civilians, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency; AFP cannot independently verify these figures.
