403
Sorry!!
Error! We're sorry, but the page you were looking for doesn't exist.
U.S. Strikes on Iran Press On Despite "Productive" Talks
(MENAFN) U.S. military operations against Iran will press on despite what President Donald Trump has characterized as promising diplomatic engagement, with a temporary halt applying exclusively to strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure, media reported Monday, citing an unnamed U.S. official.
Trump announced Monday that he had ordered a five-day suspension of all offensive action against Iranian power plants and energy facilities, pointing to "very good and productive" exchanges with Tehran over the preceding 48 hours. However, a senior U.S. official drew a sharp distinction between that limited pause and the broader military campaign.
"The stop on attacks for five days is only on their energy sites," the official said. "It is not on the military sites and the navy, and the ballistic missiles, and the defense industrial base. The initial initiatives of (Operation) Epic Fury will continue."
Tehran swiftly rejected Trump's characterization of ongoing negotiations, flatly denying any active channel of communication with Washington. The semi-official Mehr news agency, citing an Iranian source, stated there is "no dialogue" between Tehran and Washington. The source further dismissed Trump's remarks as an attempt "to lower energy prices and buy time to implement military plans."
According to the U.S. official, Israel has been deliberately excluded from direct participation in any back-channel engagement with Tehran, though it is being kept abreast of developments as they unfold. The official confirmed that only three individuals currently hold direct negotiating authority with Iran: Trump, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, and presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner. Vice President JD Vance may be brought into the process if circumstances require, the official noted.
"He knows what he's doing, and we are now sort of on a dual track," the official said.
The disclosure comes as the wider regional conflict — ignited by the joint U.S.-Israeli offensive launched against Iran on February 28 — continues to exact a mounting toll. More than 1,340 people have been killed since the campaign began, among them then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran has responded with sustained drone and missile barrages targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf states hosting U.S. military assets, causing casualties and widespread infrastructure damage while roiling global markets and aviation networks.
Trump announced Monday that he had ordered a five-day suspension of all offensive action against Iranian power plants and energy facilities, pointing to "very good and productive" exchanges with Tehran over the preceding 48 hours. However, a senior U.S. official drew a sharp distinction between that limited pause and the broader military campaign.
"The stop on attacks for five days is only on their energy sites," the official said. "It is not on the military sites and the navy, and the ballistic missiles, and the defense industrial base. The initial initiatives of (Operation) Epic Fury will continue."
Tehran swiftly rejected Trump's characterization of ongoing negotiations, flatly denying any active channel of communication with Washington. The semi-official Mehr news agency, citing an Iranian source, stated there is "no dialogue" between Tehran and Washington. The source further dismissed Trump's remarks as an attempt "to lower energy prices and buy time to implement military plans."
According to the U.S. official, Israel has been deliberately excluded from direct participation in any back-channel engagement with Tehran, though it is being kept abreast of developments as they unfold. The official confirmed that only three individuals currently hold direct negotiating authority with Iran: Trump, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, and presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner. Vice President JD Vance may be brought into the process if circumstances require, the official noted.
"He knows what he's doing, and we are now sort of on a dual track," the official said.
The disclosure comes as the wider regional conflict — ignited by the joint U.S.-Israeli offensive launched against Iran on February 28 — continues to exact a mounting toll. More than 1,340 people have been killed since the campaign began, among them then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran has responded with sustained drone and missile barrages targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf states hosting U.S. military assets, causing casualties and widespread infrastructure damage while roiling global markets and aviation networks.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Most popular stories
Market Research
More Story
Comments
No comment