Conflicting messages from Washington and Tehran on Monday deepened uncertainty over the future of US-Iran negotiations, leaving markets and regional observers struggling to gauge whether weeks of diplomatic engagement are moving toward a breakthrough or drifting toward collapse.
The mixed signals came after Iran's Tasnim news agency reported that Tehran had suspended indirect talks with the United States following Israeli military moves in Lebanon. However, US President Donald Trump quickly disputed the report, insisting negotiations remained active and progressing.
"Talks are continuing, at a rapid pace, with the Islamic Republic of Iran," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
Speaking to NBC News after reports of the alleged suspension emerged, Trump said Washington had received no notification from Tehran that talks had been halted.
"They haven't informed us of that," he said.
At the same time, the US president suggested he was prepared for a prolonged pause in communications, saying that "going silent would be very good" and could continue "for a long time."
In an apparent move to ease the Lebanon situation, Trump later announced that Israel had agreed to pull back forces that were reportedly preparing operations in southern Lebanon and said a partial cessation of hostilities had been reached between Israel and Hezbollah. Lebanon's embassy in Washington confirmed a limited de-escalation agreement under which Israel would refrain from strikes on Beirut and Hezbollah-controlled suburbs, while Hezbollah would halt attacks on Israel. The arrangement, however, falls short of a comprehensive ceasefire.
Meanwhile, US Central Command said as of June 1, CENTCOM forces have redirected 121 commercial vessels and disabled 5 to ensure compliance with the ongoing US blockade against Iran.
The uncertainty surrounding both the US-Iran negotiations and regional security developments continued to reverberate through energy markets. Oil prices held on to most of the previous session's sharp gains on Tuesday after rising more than 5% a day earlier. Brent crude traded above $95 a barrel while US West Texas Intermediate hovered near $92, supported by uncertainty over the status of U.S.-Iran talks and the prospects for stability in the Strait of Hormuz.
