Iran Firmly Denies Secret Talks with the US
Recent rumors suggesting Iran engaged in covert negotiations with the United States over the Middle East crisis have been firmly dismissed by Iranian authorities. According to Tasnim News Agency, citing intelligence sources, reports by The New York Times are nothing more than psychological tactics meant to destabilize public perception and spread misinformation.
Oil Prices Spike Briefly Before Settling
While the news initially caused oil prices to rise, markets quickly stabilized. Traders shifted focus to the U.S. Navy's proposed plan to escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane that has seen a sharp decline in traffic since the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran.
Conflict Shows No Signs of Ending Soon
Both Iran and the U.S. have made it clear they intend to continue military operations. This uncompromising stance raises serious concerns that the conflict could escalate into a prolonged war. So far, more than 1,000 lives have been lost, mostly Iranian civilians.