After hours of silence, Iranian officials have publicly denied any direct negotiations with the United States. Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei rejected claims of talks, while Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf—who had been speculated as the unnamed "leader" President Trump referenced—called the reports "fake news" intended to manipulate financial and oil markets and distract from the "quagmire" facing the US and Israel. Al Jazeera's Ali Hashem reported from Tehran that Iran's position on the war and the Strait of Hormuz remains unchanged. However, regional diplomatic efforts are intensifying, with Oman's foreign minister signalling attempts to find a "framework for peaceful passage" in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also held talks with his Russian and Turkish counterparts, Sergey Lavrov and Hakan Fidan. Hashem noted that while both sides have issued threats—the US targeting Iranian power plants and Iran threatening regional electricity infrastructure—the narrow path to de-escalation is being explored, potentially starting with the Strait of Hormuz. But any comprehensive solution would involve multiple complex issues, each requiring months of negotiations, given the involvement of Israel, Hezbollah, Gulf states and the global economy.
