US officials discuss potential talks with Iranian politician Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf

US President Donald Trump Announces Pause in Attacks on Iranian Power Infrastructure

On Monday, US President Donald Trump announced that he is pausing attacks on Iran’s power infrastructure for five days. Trump stated that Washington and Tehran had held “very good and productive conversations” aimed at ending their war.

According to reports, Trump’s envoys, including special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are in contact with a senior Iranian official. However, the Iranian government has denied that talks between Washington and Tehran are taking place.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliamentary speaker, is reportedly involved in these discussions. Ghalibaf, 64, has served as commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps air force, police chief, mayor of Tehran, and presidential candidate. He became parliamentary speaker in May 2020, replacing Ali Larijani.

Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has rejected Trump’s claims that negotiations are underway. Iranian officials have accused Trump of pausing his threatened attacks only to calm energy markets.

Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran on Saturday, warning that US attacks on its power plants would resume if the country did not reopen the critical shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz. In response, Iran threatened to attack energy and water facilities in Israel and the Gulf.

On Monday, Trump wrote on Truth Social that Washington and Tehran had held “very good and productive conversations” regarding a complete and total resolution of their hostilities in the Middle East. However, Ghalibaf has denied any talks with the US, stating that “fake news is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped.”

Ghalibaf’s online posts have been critical of the US and Israel, and he has issued threats against both countries. The Iranian government has approved any negotiations with the US through the Supreme National Security Council.

US forces will hold fire against Iranian power plants for five days, according to Trump’s announcement.

Source: Al Jazeera