Trump claims agreement with Iran, Tehran says 'false'

US President Donald Trump has claimed that the United States and Iran have reached an agreement on "almost all points." However, Tehran has directly denied the claim, stating that no negotiation or dialogue process is underway with Washington.

Speaking to journalists aboard Air Force One in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump said, "For an agreement to happen, there must be no war, and Iran must not have nuclear weapons. They are agreeing to these conditions. No agreement beyond this will be made."

President Trump said preparations were made to destroy Iran's largest power plant by Monday night. He claimed Iran spent $10 billion to build the facility. Not wanting it to be destroyed, they reached out by phone with a proposal for negotiations. Trump also claimed that Iran had agreed in principle to abandon its nuclear weapons programme.

Earlier on Saturday evening, Trump had threatened Iran on Truth Social to open the Strait of Hormuz, giving a 48-hour ultimatum, warning that otherwise the country's energy infrastructure, particularly power plants, would be destroyed. Just before the ultimatum expired, he announced a five-day suspension of all military strikes.

Approximately one-fifth of the world's total fuel oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) is transported through the Strait of Hormuz. Since the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, the strait has been largely closed. Since the war began, global oil prices have at times risen by more than 50 per cent.

Trump said his adviser Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner are involved in the talks. He also said the interests of other Middle Eastern countries, including Israel and Saudi Arabia, are being seriously considered, and he expressed hope for detailed discussions by telephone later that day.

During his remarks, Trump made an ambiguous comment about Iran's supreme leader, saying, "We have spoken with a top-level person from the US side, but not with any supreme leader. We don't even know if he (the supreme leader) is still alive."

However, within hours of Trump's claim, Iran issued a direct rebuttal. In an official statement on Monday evening, Tehran said no negotiations or dialogue process is underway with the United States.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry's statement said, "We completely deny the claims made by President Donald Trump regarding negotiations between the United States and Iran."

The statement added that Iran remains steadfast in its previous position and will not engage in any talks with the United States until its objectives in the ongoing war are achieved. This has created new complications internationally over Trump's claims.

Meanwhile, on the 24th day of the Middle East war, Iran launched seven waves of missile strikes across various locations in Israel. The latest wave targeted the city of Dimona, Israel has confirmed. Tel Aviv was also struck.

Following the attacks on central Israel, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) dispatched rescue personnel. Israel has also been launching retaliatory strikes. The Israeli Air Force claimed to have struck over 50 targets in Iran overnight, including missile launch sites and various military installations.

Analysts believe the situation is becoming increasingly complex as regional tensions escalate rapidly amid the ongoing war.