Donald Trump mentioned having “negotiations” with an unidentified Iranian official. However, the President of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, denied any negotiations with the United States. “False information is being used to manipulate financial and oil markets,” he assured. In response to Mr. Trump’s statements, oil prices sharply dropped by over 10% on Monday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that he spoke with the American President. He expressed determination to continue strikes in Iran and Lebanon. Shortly after, the Israeli army announced launching new strikes against targets of the pro-Iranian Islamist movement Hezbollah in Beirut.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced having spoken to Iranian President Massoud Pezechkian and promised Islamabad’s support to bring peace to the region.
Donald Trump announced a “five-day delay” on any strike he intended to launch on power plants or energy infrastructure in Iran. However, he threatened to “continue to bomb vigorously” if negotiations failed.
The strategic standoff of the war continues to focus on the Strait of Hormuz. In response to the ultimatum, Iran had threatened to completely close the strait and target “all energy, information technology, and desalination infrastructure owned by the United States,” according to the Fars agency citing the Iranian military.
In Lebanon, one person was killed in an Israeli strike in Beirut targeting a member of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, according to Israel. Later in the evening, the Israeli army announced launching new strikes against Hezbollah targets in Beirut, and capturing two of its elite fighters in southern Lebanon.
