Iran launched a fresh wave of missiles at Israel on Tuesday, hours after Donald Trump claimed “very good” talks were underway to end the conflict—an assertion swiftly denied by Tehran.
Trump’s unexpected remarks buoyed jittery global markets and briefly pushed oil prices lower. He said Washington was engaging an unnamed “top person” in Iran, while warning that failure to reach a deal within five days could see the US escalate its bombing campaign.
He also reiterated an earlier ultimatum for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or risk severe military action targeting its power infrastructure.
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However, Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf dismissed the claims, insisting “no negotiations” were taking place and accusing Trump of attempting to manipulate financial and oil markets.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei confirmed that messages had been relayed through “friendly countries” about possible US talks, but stressed that no direct negotiations had occurred.
Meanwhile, Benjamin Netanyahu said he had spoken with Trump and acknowledged Washington’s belief that a deal was possible, even as Israel pressed on with military operations.
“Trump believes there is a chance to leverage the achievements of the IDF and the US military into an agreement,” Netanyahu said, vowing continued strikes against Iran and in Lebanon.
State-run Iranian media reported early Tuesday that missiles had again been fired at Israel. Israeli rescue services confirmed damage to a building in the north but reported no casualties.
In Lebanon, state media said Israeli forces carried out multiple overnight air raids on southern Beirut, signalling a widening theatre of conflict.
Tensions had briefly eased on Monday after Trump appeared to step back from earlier threats to target Iran’s energy infrastructure—an escalation Tehran warned would trigger sweeping retaliation, including attacks on regional power and water facilities.
Security analyst Danny Citrinowicz said the US retreat reflected concern over the scale of potential Iranian retaliation.
“Striking Iran’s energy infrastructure would provoke a direct and significant response,” he noted.
The US is also reinforcing its presence in the Middle East, with thousands of Marines reportedly being deployed amid speculation over possible ground operations.
Since the conflict began, Iran has disrupted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz—a critical route for about one-fifth of global crude supply—while targeting energy facilities and US-linked assets across the region.
Fatih Birol warned that a prolonged war could trigger an energy crisis surpassing both the 1970s oil shocks and the fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Oil prices have surged above $100 per barrel during the conflict, though they dipped following Trump’s remarks. Asian markets rose on Tuesday, tracking gains in Europe and on Wall Street.
Trump said there were already “major points of agreement,” including US demands that Iran abandon nuclear ambitions and surrender its enriched uranium stockpiles.
However, his shifting messaging—from signalling a possible de-escalation to threatening strikes on Iran’s more than 90 power plants—has added to uncertainty.
Netanyahu, for his part, has indicated Israel is preparing for a prolonged campaign, linking Iran to regional militant groups, including Hamas, whose October 7, 2023, attack triggered the ongoing Gaza war.
In Lebanon, Israel has intensified operations against Iran-backed Hezbollah, warning of “weeks of fighting” and expanding ground actions.
Lebanese authorities say more than 1,000 people have been killed and over a million displaced, while a US-based monitoring group reports at least 3,230 deaths in Iran, including over 1,400 civilians—figures that remain independently unverified.
AFP
