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Iran’s Mehr news agency on Sunday denied United States President Donald Trump’s claim that Tehran had asked Washington to refrain from carrying out further strikes against the Islamic Republic.
Citing military officials, Mehr described the claim as false and said Iran’s armed forces remained on high alert and prepared for any possible escalation.
Trump said on Saturday that the United States was prepared to launch further strikes against Iran but claimed Tehran and other Middle Eastern countries had asked him to hold off.
He said he had agreed to pause the strikes while pursuing a possible deal with Iran, which he said would require the immediate and complete reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to what he described as Iran’s nuclear threat.
“This would include the Immediate, Complete and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat,” wrote Trump in a Truth Social post.
Iran’s Fars news agency, meanwhile, quoted a source close to Iranian negotiators as saying the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed as long as the United States continued what Iran considers hostile actions.
Iran has blocked access through the strategic waterway since the start of the war, requiring vessels to obtain permission and pay transit fees before passing through.
