US-Iran Tensions Escalate: Trump Warns of Military Action, Tehran Denies Talks
United States President Donald Trump has warned of a return to strong military action against Iran if ongoing diplomatic efforts fail. In an interview with Axios, Trump stated that the window for diplomacy is short and that talks must move quickly or not happen at all.
Trump also shared AI-generated images on social media depicting attacks on Iranian facilities, though no such strikes have been confirmed. The images have drawn criticism for their potential to inflame tensions.
Iran has denied that any negotiations are currently underway. Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran is only receiving messages through intermediaries and is not engaged in direct talks with the US.
Meanwhile, Trump claimed that the US had halted renewed strikes on Iran at Tehran's request, warning that strikes would resume if a new ceasefire deal is not reached. Iranian officials have not confirmed this account.
Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, told Hezbollah that “there remains no path forward except jihad and resistance,” linking any US ceasefire to a full halt of Israeli operations in Lebanon. This statement underscores the regional dimension of the conflict.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has arrived in Washington for a meeting with Trump, where the Iran situation is expected to top the agenda. The meeting comes amid heightened military posturing.
In a related development, Saudi Arabia's defence ministry reported intercepting several drones targeting its oil facilities, which it said were launched by Iran-backed militias in Iraq. The attacks have raised concerns about regional stability.
Oil prices have dropped significantly, with Brent crude falling 6.7 per cent to near $90 a barrel. Shipping through the strategic chokepoints of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb has slowed over the weekend.
Oman and Iran are reportedly nearing a technical agreement on managing the Strait of Hormuz, though Tehran's demand for a transit toll on passing ships remains unresolved. Such a toll could impact global oil shipments.
Iran has escalated threats against Ukraine after a Ukrainian strike on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea killed one person and injured three. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the incident “cannot go unanswered.”
Separately, UN human rights chief Volker Turk stated that his office has documented Israeli violations of international law in Lebanon, some of which may amount to war crimes. The statement adds another layer of complexity to the regional conflict.
These developments come amid a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, and ongoing US-Iran tensions that continue to shape the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East.
