Trump: U.S. speaking to “most respected” leader in Iran

President Trump said Monday the U.S. was engaged in "very strong talks" with an unnamed Iranian leader, prompting him to declare a five-day pause in American strikes on Iranian power and energy infrastructure.

"We'll see where they lead. We have major points of agreement. I would say almost all points of agreement," he told reporters, despite Iranian denials that such talks were taking place. "Perhaps that hasn't been conveyed. Their communication, as you know, has been blown to pieces. They're unable to talk to each other."

The president said his son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff were leading the talks with the "top leader," whom he called the "most respected" in Iran, but declined to name — other than saying it was not the new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.

"They want very much to make a deal. We'd like to make a deal, too. We're going to get together today by probably phone," he told reporters before boarding Air Force One in Palm Beach, Florida.

"We're doing a five-day period. We'll see how that goes. And if it goes well, we're going to end up with settling this. Otherwise, we'll just keep bombing our little hearts out."

The Iranian Foreign Ministry denied any talks were underway and said President Trump making the claim was "part of efforts to reduce energy prices and buy time to implement his military plans."

"While there have been initiatives by regional countries to de-escalate tensions, Iran's response has been clear: It did not start the war, and all such requests should be directed to Washington," the ministry said through state media.

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