US President Donald Trump on Monday claimed that Washington is engaging in discussions with multiple leaders in Iran, not just a single individual, and stressed that the initiative for talks came from the Iranian side. Speaking to CNBC, he said, “I didn't call them. They called. They wanted to make a deal, and we are also willing to make a deal.”

Trump clarified that the conversations were not taking place with Iran’s new supreme leader. “Nobody has heard from him, and we don't know if he is living. I don't want the leader of Iran to be killed; nobody wants that job right now,” he added, emphasizing that the US is communicating with a senior Iranian official he described as highly respected.

The President’s statements followed reports from Iranian media asserting that no official talks have occurred between the two nations. IRIB described Trump’s claims as false, characterizing them as an attempt to deflect attention from his previous threats against Iran’s energy infrastructure. The media outlet reaffirmed that Tehran’s stance on the Strait of Hormuz remains unchanged.

Also Read: Voting Underway For 11 Rajya Sabha Seats Across Bihar, Odisha, Haryana

Earlier, Trump had issued a deadline for Iran to unblock the strategically important strait and subsequently announced a five-day pause on strikes targeting Iranian energy and power infrastructure to facilitate negotiations. Despite these developments, he insisted that substantive discussions are underway.

According to Trump, the US and Iranian officials have identified “major points of agreement” in the talks, which he said must lead to Iran abandoning its nuclear ambitions and reducing its enriched uranium stockpile. He reiterated that the negotiations are focused on a senior Iranian figure rather than the country’s supreme leader.

The President described the US approach as a phased strategy, saying, “We've wiped out the leadership phase one, phase two, and largely phase three. But we're dealing with the man who I believe is the most respected and the leader. We want no enrichment, but we also want the enriched uranium.” Trump’s remarks highlight ongoing tensions over nuclear proliferation and regional security, even as diplomatic channels remain uncertain.

Also Read: Varalakshmi Dairy Milk Contamination in East Godavari Causes 13 Deaths, Investigations Underway