U.S. President Donald Trump recently stated that effective negotiations with Iran had taken place in recent days, which led him to postpone potential strikes on energy facilities. However, Tehran quickly rejected this claim, insisting that neither direct nor indirect negotiations with the United States had occurred. What is actually happening, and why are the statements so contradictory?
According to Iran expert Edward Berudzhanyan, the current situation is a clear example of a “classic Trump strategy.” He notes that this is not the first time Trump has attempted to “reshuffle the cards” at the most intense stage, influencing multiple dimensions simultaneously — both economic and military-political.
The expert points out that developments around Iran directly affect oil prices, contradicting Trump’s campaign promises that energy prices would decrease. “Following Trump’s statement, we saw a certain stabilization in oil prices on the markets, but this effect is largely short-term,” he emphasizes.
At the same time, he notes that the United States is avoiding decisive strikes on Iran’s strategic infrastructure, given the risk of retaliation. “The Iranian side has clearly stated that such strikes would be followed by retaliatory actions, including against key facilities in Persian Gulf countries, which could lead not only to economic but also to serious environmental consequences,” Berudzhanyan says.
From a military-political perspective, the expert believes the situation resembles a conditional “five-day ceasefire,” allowing the sides to regroup and reassess intelligence data. According to him, short-term objectives have likely not been fully achieved, and both the United States and Israel are now facing the need to revise their actions. “This is also preparation for higher-intensity operations,” he adds.
At the same time, he emphasizes that Iran is also attempting to gain time. By rejecting claims of negotiations, Tehran is, in his view, seeking to buy time, as the conflict is entering a phase of economic attrition.
The expert highlights that economic pressure has become one of the main tools in this confrontation. According to him, Iran is trying to create conditions in which the international community and energy-dependent countries will themselves exert pressure on Washington to end the conflict.